Colorectal Cancer
Course #90782 - $90 -
- Participation Instructions
- Review the course material online or in print.
- Complete the course evaluation.
- Review your Transcript to view and print your Certificate of Completion. Your date of completion will be the date (Pacific Time) the course was electronically submitted for credit, with no exceptions. Partial credit is not available.
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and roughly 35% of those who develop colorectal cancer die from the disease. Improved therapies and widespread primary prevention through screening have resulted in the United States being the only developed country with declining colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. However, there is substantial room for improvement, and primary care provider knowledge of colorectal cancer is essential to continue reducing cases through screening and early detection. Improved clinician knowledge of the most recent research on new diagnostic and therapy modalities is required in order to improve patient outcomes and reduce side effects.
This course is designed for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare providers who may improve the identification and care of patients with colorectal cancer.
The purpose of this course is to provide healthcare professionals with information regarding the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer in order to improve adherence to established guidelines and, by extension, patient outcomes.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Discuss the epidemiology of colorectal cancer.
- Identify modifiable colorectal cancer risk factors.
- Describe nonmodifiable risk factors, including familial and genetic colorectal cancer syndromes.
- Evaluate the role of colonoscopy in colorectal cancer screening, including strategies to improve effectiveness.
- Identify available modalities used in colorectal cancer screening.
- Apply the correct colorectal cancer screening interval for patients with specific findings.
- Describe the pathways by which colorectal cancer develops.
- Discuss the histologic features of colorectal cancer precursor lesions.
- Relate the diagnostic and staging criteria for colon and rectal cancers.
- Identify molecular and clinical factors used to determine prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer.
- Select the appropriate treatment approach for early stage (I–III) colon cancer.
- Choose the most effective treatment option for patients with rectal cancer.
- Analyze the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer, including the action of specific agents.
- Discuss the treatment of metastatic and recurrent colorectal cancers.
- Describe potential treatment-induced toxicities and adverse effects in patients with colorectal cancer.
- Outline recommended follow-up for patients treated for colorectal cancer.
Mark Rose, BS, MA, LP, is a licensed psychologist in the State of Minnesota with a private consulting practice and a medical research analyst with a biomedical communications firm. Earlier healthcare technology assessment work led to medical device and pharmaceutical sector experience in new product development involving cancer ablative devices and pain therapeutics. Along with substantial experience in addiction research, Mr. Rose has contributed to the authorship of numerous papers on CNS, oncology, and other medical disorders. He is the lead author of papers published in peer-reviewed addiction, psychiatry, and pain medicine journals and has written books on prescription opioids and alcoholism published by the Hazelden Foundation. He also serves as an Expert Advisor and Expert Witness to law firms that represent disability claimants or criminal defendants on cases related to chronic pain, psychiatric/substance use disorders, and acute pharmacologic/toxicologic effects. Mr. Rose is on the Board of Directors of the Minneapolis-based International Institute of Anti-Aging Medicine and is a member of several professional organizations.
Contributing faculty, Mark Rose, BS, MA, LP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
John M. Leonard, MD
Jane C. Norman, RN, MSN, CNE, PhD
The division planners have disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Sarah Campbell
The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.
Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.
It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
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The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.
Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.