Mailed Brochure for Colorectal Screening
An Evidence-Based Practice
This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.
Description
This study tested the effectiveness of an informational brochure mailed to patients' homes to combat patient nonadherence to referrals for colorectal cancer screening. Patients participating in the intervention received a brochure in the mail within 10 days of referral for screening colonoscopy. The brochure mentioned their primary care physician by name, and encouraged the patient to schedule a procedure. The brochure included information about colorectal cancer and polyps, lifetime risks factors for colorectal cancer for men and women, the concept of early detection, and how screening may help prevent death. It also described colonoscopy and the risks involved, the nature of bowel preparation for the procedure, and alternative screening tests.
Goal / Mission
The goal of this mailing is to increase colorectal cancer screening completion rates.
Impact
Colonoscopy screening adherence rates in the intervention group of the trial were higher than the rates in the control group.
Results / Accomplishments
The study was evaluated using a randomized controlled trial comparing the intervention group with a usual care group. The overall adherence rates to screening colonoscopy in the intervention group was 11.7 percentage points greater than in the control group (70.7% vs. 59.0%, p = 0.001). Patients over age 65 were 18% more likely to complete the procedure than patients aged 50 to 64 years. Patients with Medicaid or other low-income insurance plans were 60% less likely than those with Medicare to complete a procedure.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
Primary Contact
Thomas Denberg, MD, PhD
4200 E. 9th Avenue, B-180
Division of General Internal Medicine
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
Denver, CO 80262
(303) 724-1785
tom.denberg@uchsc.edu
4200 E. 9th Avenue, B-180
Division of General Internal Medicine
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
Denver, CO 80262
(303) 724-1785
tom.denberg@uchsc.edu
Topics
Health / Cancer
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Prevention & Safety
Organization(s)
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
Source
Annals of Internal Medicine
Date of publication
Mar 2006
Location
Denver, CO
For more details
Target Audience
Adults