SMS Messaging as a Tool to Improve Cancer Screening Programs (M-TICS)

Institut Català d'Oncologia

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Mass Screening

Treatments: Behavioral: Invitation by SMS to previous participants in breast cancer screening:; Behavioral: SMS reminders to return the fecal immunochemical test at the pharmacy in CRC screening:; Behavioral: SMS reminders to enhance colorectal cancer screening

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04343950

ICO_UCC_202001

PI19/00226 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this project is to assess the impact on health and economics of the implementation of text messaging (SMS) in cancer screening programs. Three interventions with SMS will be evaluated through community trials. In the colorectal cancer screening program the following interventions will be tested: a) Participation reminder: six weeks after sending the invitation letter of the colorectal cancer program if there has not been a response, a reminder SMS will be sent in front of the usual method by letter; b) Reminder to return the fecal occult blood test: SMS reminder of test delivery versus no intervention. This reminder will be sent to the individuals who have gone to the pharmacy to pick up a fecal occult blood test and they have not returned it after 14 days. The impact on participation will be analyzed and, if applicable, the proportion of advanced neoplasms will be calculated by increase in participation. In the breast cancer screening program, the invitation by SMS versus the usual invitation by letter will be studied in women who had participated in the previous screening round. The impact on participation will be analyzed. A cost-effectiveness analysis of the three interventions will be carried out. The incremental cost ratio of the interventions between cost variation and effectiveness variation will be calculated.

Full description

Main Hypothesis:

The implementation of SMS in population-based cancer screening programs will improve participation, especially in colorectal cancer screening, will allow a better resource management and reduce costs in both programs.

Specific Hypothesis:

Sending the reminder SMS will have an impact on participation greater than that obtained with the standard reminder (letter) in the colorectal cancer screening program.

The effect of the colorectal cancer screening reminder SMS will be greater among the individuals who have been invited for the first time and not previous participants.

Participation after receiving the invitation by SMS in breast cancer screening will be equal to or better than the letter invitation.

The alternative that includes sending SMS will be cost-effective in relation to the current alternative that you use postal shipping.

Enrollment: 44,601 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 69 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Eligible individuals for colorectal cancer screening (intervention 1 and 2)
• Eligible women for breast cancer screening (intervention 3)
• Registered at the HealthCare Database (RCA)

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals without a mobile phone number registered at the RCA
• Opt out from breast cancer screening and/or colorectal cancer screening

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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44,601 participants in 6 patient groups

Intervention 1: SMS reminders in colorectal cancer screening

Experimental group

Description:

SMS reminders will be sent to individuals who received an invitation letter from Colorectal Cancer Screening Program and haven't participated within 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: SMS reminders to enhance colorectal cancer screening

Usual Care 1: Reminder letter in colorectal cancer screening

Active Comparator group

Description:

Reminder letters will be sent to individuals who received an invitation letter from the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program and haven't participated within 6 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: SMS reminders to enhance colorectal cancer screening

Intervention 2: SMS reminders to return the screening test

Experimental group

Description:

SMS reminders will be sent to individuals who picked the fecal immunochemical test at the pharmacy and haven't returned it within 14 days.

Treatment:

Behavioral: SMS reminders to return the fecal immunochemical test at the pharmacy in CRC screening:

Usual Care 2: No intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

No reminders will be sent.

Treatment:

Behavioral: SMS reminders to return the fecal immunochemical test at the pharmacy in CRC screening:

Intervention 3: SMS invitation among prior participants

Experimental group

Description:

Invitation by SMS will be sent to women who previously participated in the Breast Cancer Screening Program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Invitation by SMS to previous participants in breast cancer screening:

Usual Care 3: Invitation letter

Active Comparator group

Description:

Letter invitations will be sent.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Invitation by SMS to previous participants in breast cancer screening: