Behavioral Nudges for Colon Cancer Screening

(PROMPT-CRC Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Emily Rosenzweig, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Emily Rosenzweig

Disqualifiers: Other screening, Recent nudge, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

2400 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

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.

Research Team

Emily Rosenzweig

Principal Investigator

Ascension Health

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for people aged 45 to 75 who are due for colorectal cancer screening. It's designed to help those who may face barriers to traditional colonoscopy by using stool testing kits, which can be done at home.

Inclusion Criteria

Included in and non-compliant on the Ascension Colon Cancer Screening Clinical Priority Goal measure

Have consented to receive electronic communications from the health system

No record of Cologuard stool testing lab results returned within 60 days of the order being placed

Exclusion Criteria

Have received a nudge campaign from the Clinical Transformation team in the past 90 days

Patients who have previously opted out of receiving electronic communications from the health system in our message delivery platform (Salesforce)

Patients whose primary care providers are exempted from the campaign by the health system

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive behavioral nudges to increase stool testing kit return rates

12 weeks

Messages sent periodically

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for kit return rates and lab results

12 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Three Messaging Nudges

Trial Overview The study tests if three different types of personalized reminder messages (behavioral nudges) can encourage patients to return their mail-in stool testing kits, which screen for colon cancer.

Participant Groups

Group I: Experimental Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group receiving the messages

Group II: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Group not receiving the messages

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Emily Rosenzweig

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2

Recruited

52,400+