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Patient Reminders Optimizing Mail-in Prevention Testing for Colorectal Cancer

NCT06710509 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 2106

Last updated 2025-08-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Screening is an important tool for early colorectal cancer detection, and the most recent evidence suggests that early detection significantly improves survival rates. Current medical guidelines recommend that all people aged 45 to 75 be screened regularly. However, actual rates of screening in the United States are much lower than this.

Colonoscopy is the gold standard in colon cancer screening, serving as both screening and prevention. However there are many barriers to colonoscopy uptake, including lack of awareness, patient reticence, scheduling complexity, and market variation in access. Stool testing is a valuable alternative to colonoscopy for low-risk patients. Exact Sciences is the company that makes Cologuard, which is the current best-in-class stool testing for colon cancer screening.

Despite being a convenient at-home screening option, patient engagement with screening via stool testing has room for improvement. Over 40% of Ascension patients who have a stool testing order placed for them never return the screening kit in the mail.

A large body of research demonstrates that interventions informed by behavioral science can support patients in engaging in a variety of preventative health behaviors. Personalized nudges have proven to be among the most effective types of interventions, along with interventions aimed at helping patients overcome barriers to screening. We aim to test whether behavioral nudges can increase stool testing kit return rates.

Conditions

  • Colon Cancer Screening

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Three Messaging Nudges

Patients in the Experimental Condition will receive a set of up to three email and text messages over the course of five days, while also receiving usual care which could include messaging from their practice or the electronic health record.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Emily Rosenzweig

    lead INDUSTRY

Principal Investigators

  • Emily Rosenzweig · Ascension Health

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SCREENING
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
45 Years
Max Age
75 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-12-05
Primary Completion
2025-01-02
Completion
2025-02-26

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06710509 on ClinicalTrials.gov