New interventions aimed at increasing colorectal screening are necessary to reduce mortality from the disease, according to a study published in Medscape.
Two randomized controlled trials found that a multicomponent outreach program increased screening rates by 6 percent in patients with an expired colonoscopy order. Personalized electronic messages had no sustainable effect on screening rates, according to the study.
The researchers evaluated the effect of a combined reminder-outreach intervention among patients with no history of CRC who had an expired order for screening colonoscopy in an urban, primary care, internal medicine practice. The patients randomly assigned to the intervention group received a personalized letter from their primary care physician reminding them about screening colonoscopy, as well as a telephone call to confirm receipt of the mailing two weeks later.
The control group received a personalized letter from the primary care physician reminding them about their colonoscopy.
At three months of follow-up, a higher percentage of patients in the intervention group had completed CRC screening compared with the control group. The absolute difference remained the same at six months, at around 6 percent.
Read the Medscape report on colorectal cancer screening.
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Two randomized controlled trials found that a multicomponent outreach program increased screening rates by 6 percent in patients with an expired colonoscopy order. Personalized electronic messages had no sustainable effect on screening rates, according to the study.
The researchers evaluated the effect of a combined reminder-outreach intervention among patients with no history of CRC who had an expired order for screening colonoscopy in an urban, primary care, internal medicine practice. The patients randomly assigned to the intervention group received a personalized letter from their primary care physician reminding them about screening colonoscopy, as well as a telephone call to confirm receipt of the mailing two weeks later.
The control group received a personalized letter from the primary care physician reminding them about their colonoscopy.
At three months of follow-up, a higher percentage of patients in the intervention group had completed CRC screening compared with the control group. The absolute difference remained the same at six months, at around 6 percent.
Read the Medscape report on colorectal cancer screening.
Related Articles on GI/Endoscopy:
Study: Retroflexion Technique During Colonoscopy Improves Polyp Detection
Study: Fecal Occult Blood Testing Effective for Colon Cancer Screening
Phoebe Putney in Georgia Hopes New Digestive Center Will Attract GI Physicians