The Dialogue for Action™ program focuses on increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening as part of a comprehensive and coordinated cancer prevention strategy through an annual national conference and two-year projects with states, regions and Native American tribes.
The 11th annual conference, A Dialogue for Action in Colorectal Cancer Screening: Harnessing the Power of Success was held in Baltimore, April 1-3, 2009. Conference objectives aimed to explain the benefits of integrating CRC screening with other preventive services, evaluated specific techniques and approaches to promote prevention and early detection in a variety of settings, compared and applied tangible take-home messages and resources from successful programs in communication, outreach and policy/advocacy and provided a venue for the exchange of ideas and strategies with a diversity of colleagues all committed to increasing screening.
Since 2002, 17 states and 10 American Indian/Alaska Native teams have participated in the Dialogue process to increase capacity for CRC screening in their respective communities — whether large or small, and rural or urban. Outcomes of the projects have ranged from statewide awareness campaigns to support of CRC legislation for screening programs to office reminder systems.