Electronic and mailed reminders can increase rates of colorectal cancer screening, according to a news report by U.S. News & World Report.
The report cites two studies where reminders helped encourage patients to receive the screening. In one study of 1,103 patients aged 50-75, half of the patients received an electronic message from their physician about colorectal cancer screening as well as a link to an online tool to assess their individual risk for colorectal cancer. The other half served as the control and did not receive any electronic message. A month later, screening rate for patients who received electronic reminders was 8.3 percent, whereas the rate for patients without electronic reminders was 0.2 percent. However, there was not a significant difference after four months.
The second study involved 628 patients aged 50-79 who were also overdue for colorectal cancer screening. Half of the patients were mailed a reminder note, brochure and DVD about colorectal cancer and the screening process. This group of patients also received a follow-up phone call. The other patients served as the control group. Three months after reminders were mailed, 9.9 percent of patients in the mailed group received screening, where as 3.2 percent of patients in the control group received screening.
Read the news report about electronic and mailed reminders for colorectal cancer screening.
Read other coverage about colorectal cancer screening:
- Virtual Colonoscopy a Possibility for Increased Patient Comfort
- AGA: Testing Between Colonoscopies Can Help Patients With High Risk of CRC
- CDC: 50% of CRC Cases Are Detected in Late Stages
The report cites two studies where reminders helped encourage patients to receive the screening. In one study of 1,103 patients aged 50-75, half of the patients received an electronic message from their physician about colorectal cancer screening as well as a link to an online tool to assess their individual risk for colorectal cancer. The other half served as the control and did not receive any electronic message. A month later, screening rate for patients who received electronic reminders was 8.3 percent, whereas the rate for patients without electronic reminders was 0.2 percent. However, there was not a significant difference after four months.
The second study involved 628 patients aged 50-79 who were also overdue for colorectal cancer screening. Half of the patients were mailed a reminder note, brochure and DVD about colorectal cancer and the screening process. This group of patients also received a follow-up phone call. The other patients served as the control group. Three months after reminders were mailed, 9.9 percent of patients in the mailed group received screening, where as 3.2 percent of patients in the control group received screening.
Read the news report about electronic and mailed reminders for colorectal cancer screening.
Read other coverage about colorectal cancer screening:
- Virtual Colonoscopy a Possibility for Increased Patient Comfort
- AGA: Testing Between Colonoscopies Can Help Patients With High Risk of CRC
- CDC: 50% of CRC Cases Are Detected in Late Stages