Impact of a Mailed Educational Reminder on Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT): A Randomized Controlled Trial
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Colorectal Cancer, Cancer |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Oncology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 50 - Any |
| Updated: | 4/2/2016 |
| Start Date: | June 2007 |
| End Date: | October 2007 |
| Contact: | Jeffrey K Lee, B.A. |
| Email: | jklee@ucsd.edu |
| Phone: | 510-847-1198 |
The purpose of our randomized controlled trial is to determine whether mailed educational
reminders would increase fecal occult blood test (FOBT) card return rates and, therefore,
improve patient compliance with colonrectal cancer (CRC) screening.
We will conduct a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the hypothesis that compliance to
FOBT referrals is at least 10% greater among patients who receive mailed educational
reminders on the importance of CRC screening. The study will be conducted in Veteran Affairs
Medical Center and surrounding VA clinics in San Diego.
reminders would increase fecal occult blood test (FOBT) card return rates and, therefore,
improve patient compliance with colonrectal cancer (CRC) screening.
We will conduct a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the hypothesis that compliance to
FOBT referrals is at least 10% greater among patients who receive mailed educational
reminders on the importance of CRC screening. The study will be conducted in Veteran Affairs
Medical Center and surrounding VA clinics in San Diego.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and women in the United
States with an estimated 147,000 new cases and more than 56,000 deaths each year. Early
detection of colon cancer and removal of precancerous adenomatous polyps have been shown to
reduce its morbidity, mortality and incidence. There are several recommended CRC screening
tests, including fecal occult blood test (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, air-contrast barium
enema, and colonoscopy. In the VA, FOBT is the predominant screening test for CRC, however
patient compliance is low. Numerous studies have evaluated patient participation in CRC
screening programs and FOBT card return rates, all of which have shown patient adherence was
suboptimal. To date, there are no studies that have evaluated whether mailed educational
reminders can improve FOBT compliance. The purpose of our randomized controlled trial is to
determine whether mailed educational reminders would increase FOBT card return rates and,
therefore, improve patient compliance with CRC screening.
States with an estimated 147,000 new cases and more than 56,000 deaths each year. Early
detection of colon cancer and removal of precancerous adenomatous polyps have been shown to
reduce its morbidity, mortality and incidence. There are several recommended CRC screening
tests, including fecal occult blood test (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, air-contrast barium
enema, and colonoscopy. In the VA, FOBT is the predominant screening test for CRC, however
patient compliance is low. Numerous studies have evaluated patient participation in CRC
screening programs and FOBT card return rates, all of which have shown patient adherence was
suboptimal. To date, there are no studies that have evaluated whether mailed educational
reminders can improve FOBT compliance. The purpose of our randomized controlled trial is to
determine whether mailed educational reminders would increase FOBT card return rates and,
therefore, improve patient compliance with CRC screening.
Inclusion Criteria:
- asymptomatic men and women age 50 years or older who received screening FOBT card
kits from the laboratory
Exclusion Criteria:
- are less than 50 years of age
- are inpatients
- are not undergoing routine colon cancer screening
We found this trial at
1
site
Click here to add this to my saved trials
