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Pilot Evaluation of Fecal Immunologic Test (FIT) in Ontario

S

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Status

Completed

Conditions

Colorectal Cancer

Treatments

Other: dropping completed kits at lab for processing
Other: mailed invitation to pick up lab requisition and then kit
Other: mailing completed kits in for processing
Other: mailing of FIT kit directly to patient

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01754896
209-2011

Details and patient eligibility

About

Prior to implementation of new colorectal cancer (CRC) screening technology (fecal immunochemical test - FIT) in Ontario, there is a need for a laboratory and field assessment to validate and optimize its use in the Ontario climate and conditions (e.g., large geographic area) and to determine whether adjustments to the current structure of the ColonCancerCheck (CCC) Program would be required.

This study consists of 2 phases. Phase 1 consists of laboratory testing of FIT kits to evaluate analytical performance relevant to the requirements of the CCC Program. Phase 2 is a field assessment to evaluate the effect of different distribution and return methods and pre-labeling of kits on uptake and completion of the tests. The entire study will take 12-18 months to complete, with patients being recruited through family physicians in patient enrollment model (PEM) family practices across the province of Ontario.

This Clinical Trials registration relates to Phase 2 of the study.

Full description

In 2008 Ontario launched the ColonCancerCheck (CCC) Program, an organized colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program in which average risk patients are offered an at-home screening test and increased risk patients are offered colonoscopy directly through their family physician.

Currently, Ontario's CCC Program utilizes guaiac fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) in persons at average risk of CRC. However, the program is currently considering a change to fecal immunochemical testing (FIT).

FIT, which comes in quantitative and qualitative formats, is superior to the gFOBT from a scientific perspective because it specifically detects human hemoglobin. gFOBT uses an indirect detection which depends on a peroxidase reaction not specific for human hemoglobin. FIT methodology is also both more convenient and superior from a participant perspective and multiple studies have demonstrated higher participation rates and improved detection of CRC precursors as well as invasive CRCs with FIT compared to gFOBT.

Organized CRC screening programs considering quantitative FIT face certain additional challenges, including uncertain stability over time and tolerance to variation in temperature following sample collection and prior to arrival in a testing laboratory. Prior to implementation of FIT in Ontario, there is a need for a laboratory and field assessment to validate and optimize its use in the Ontario climate and conditions (e.g., large geographic area) and to determine whether adjustments to the current structure of the CCC Program would be required.

This study consists of 2 phases. Phase 1, laboratory testing, assesses 2 quantitative and 3 qualitative FIT kits to evaluate analytical performance relevant to the requirements of the CCC Program. Phase 2 is a field assessment to evaluate the effect of different distribution and return methods and pre-labeling of kits on uptake and completion of the tests. The entire study will take 12-18 months to complete, with patients being recruited through family physicians in patient enrollment model (PEM) family practices across the province of Ontario. Data collection will take place for 6 months, starting on the day that screening kits and/or invitation letters are mailed to patients.

This Clinical Trials registration relates to Phase 2 of the study.

Enrollment

28 patients

Sex

All

Ages

50 to 74 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Physician in Ontario with a patient enrollment model
  • patient: 50-74, Ontario resident, enrolled with physician

Exclusion criteria

  • patient: no personal or first degree relative family history of CRC, no FOBT within prior 5 years, colonoscopy within past 10 years, FOBT within past 2 years

Trial design

Primary purpose

Health Services Research

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Factorial Assignment

Masking

None (Open label)

28 participants in 4 patient groups

Mail-out/Mail-back
Experimental group
Description:
Mailing of FIT kit directly to patient. Mailing completed kits in for processing.
Treatment:
Other: mailing completed kits in for processing
Other: mailing of FIT kit directly to patient
Mail-out/Drop-off
Experimental group
Description:
Mailing of FIT kit directly to patient. Dropping completed kits at lab for processing.
Treatment:
Other: dropping completed kits at lab for processing
Other: mailing of FIT kit directly to patient
Pick-up/Mail-back
Experimental group
Description:
Mailed invitation to pick up lab requisition and then kit. Mailing completed kits in for processing.
Treatment:
Other: mailing completed kits in for processing
Other: mailed invitation to pick up lab requisition and then kit
Pick-up/Drop-off
Experimental group
Description:
Mailed invitation to pick up lab requisition and then kit. Dropping completed kits at lab for processing.
Treatment:
Other: dropping completed kits at lab for processing
Other: mailed invitation to pick up lab requisition and then kit

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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