NCT01415479

Brief Summary

Fifty thousand people die from colorectal cancer (CRC) every year, making it the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. And although there are multiple screening tests that reduce the morbidity and mortality of this disease, less than 60% of eligible individuals are up to date with recommended screening. One of the challenges to improving screening is helping patients understand the range of approved tests, including colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and stool testing (such as fecal immunochemical testing (FIT)). Patients rarely consider all their options, partly due to the limited time they have to learn about them during busy doctor's visits. Computer-based presentations, including decision aids, are a promising tool for improving patient understanding in this and other areas, by giving patients significant amounts of information. But there are important questions about how to design such presentations, including whether they should provide quantitative data about the risks and benefits of screening. Some experts feel that these numbers and graphs are necessary for fully informed decision-making, while others are concerned that they may confuse patients or dissuade them from screening. The investigators have created and pilot tested a computer-based presentation of quantitative information about CRC screening. The investigators found that subjects who viewed the program in a non-healthcare setting exhibited significantly increased interest in screening. In addition, the investigators tested a version of the program that includes a "nudge" towards stool testing with FIT, as a way of encouraging individuals who are confused to undergo some form of screening. In our testing, receiving the nudge was associated with a significant increase in interest in FIT. The investigators now seek to conduct a randomized, controlled study of our computer-based presentation with Clarian patients who are due for CRC screening. All subjects will first view a general video about CRC screening and then will be randomly placed into four groups (using a 2x2 design), to receive quantitative information (or not), and a nudge towards FIT (or not). The results will determine whether a presentation of quantitative information can increase patient understanding, quality of decision-making, and uptake of CRC screening. The results will serve as pilot data for a larger, externally funded study of the effect of individualized ("personalized") quantitative information in this area

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
212

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Aug 2011

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 1, 2011

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 2, 2011

Completed
10 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 12, 2011

Completed
12 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 1, 2012

Completed
7 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2013

Completed
Last Updated

April 30, 2013

Status Verified

April 1, 2013

Enrollment Period

1 year

First QC Date

August 2, 2011

Last Update Submit

April 29, 2013

Conditions

Keywords

Colon cancerScreeningDecision-making

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Intention to undergo CRC screening in the next six months

    Multiple choice question assessing subject's interest in getting a colon screening test in the next 6 months (choices: definitely, probably, may or may not, probably not, or definitely not).

    Day 1: Immediately before and after viewing intervention (at the same visit)

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Preferred CRC screening test

    Day 1: Immediately before and after viewing intervention (at the same visit)

  • Knowledge of CRC risk and the benefit of CRC screening

    Day 1: Immediately before and after viewing intervention (at the same visit)

  • Decision conflict

    Day 1: Immediately before and after viewing intervention (at the same visit)

  • Completion of CRC screening

    6 months post-intervention

Study Arms (4)

Quantitative

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects view: 1. Computer-based presentation regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) and screening for CRC with colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or stool testing. Includes a video from the American Cancer Society. 2. Computer-based presentation providing quantitative information regarding (a) the lifetime average probability of getting CRC or dying from it, (b) the reduction in mortality provided by undergoing regular screening with colonoscopy, and (c) the reduction in mortality provided by undergoing regular screening with fecal immunochemical testing (FIT)

Behavioral: ControlBehavioral: Quantitative

Default

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects view: 1. Computer-based presentation regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) and screening for CRC with colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or stool testing. Includes a video from the American Cancer Society. 2. Computer-based presentation that encourages subjects who are unwilling to undergo colonoscopy or are unsure about whether to undergo screening to get tested with Fecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT).

Behavioral: ControlBehavioral: Default

Quantitative + Default

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects view: 1. Computer-based presentation regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) and screening for CRC with colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or stool testing. Includes a video from the American Cancer Society. 2. Computer-based presentation providing quantitative information regarding (a) the lifetime average probability of getting CRC or dying from it, (b) the reduction in mortality provided by undergoing regular screening with colonoscopy, and (c) the reduction in mortality provided by undergoing regular screening with fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) 3. Computer-based presentation that encourages subjects who are unwilling to undergo colonoscopy or are unsure about whether to undergo screening to get tested with Fecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT).

Behavioral: ControlBehavioral: QuantitativeBehavioral: Default

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Subjects view a computer-based presentation regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) and available screening tests for CRC, primarily a video produced by the American Cancer Society.

Behavioral: Control

Interventions

ControlBEHAVIORAL

Computer-based presentation regarding colorectal cancer (CRC) and screening for CRC with colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or stool testing. Includes a video from the American Cancer Society.

ControlDefaultQuantitativeQuantitative + Default
QuantitativeBEHAVIORAL

Computer-based presentation providing quantitative information regarding (a) the lifetime average probability of getting CRC or dying from it, (b) the reduction in mortality provided by undergoing regular screening with colonoscopy, and (c) the reduction in mortality provided by undergoing regular screening with fecal immunochemical testing (FIT)

QuantitativeQuantitative + Default
DefaultBEHAVIORAL

Computer-based presentation that encourages subjects who are unwilling to undergo colonoscopy or are unsure about whether to undergo screening to get tested with Fecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT). This is labeled the "Default" intervention since it attempts to shift the "default" choice from "no screening" to FIT.

DefaultQuantitative + Default

Eligibility Criteria

Age50 Years - 75 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age 50-75 years old
  • No colonoscopy performed in last 10 years, sigmoidoscopy in last 5 years or fecal occult blood testing (including FIT) in last 1 year, and
  • Upcoming appointment with primary care physician at three primary care sites of IU Health (previously sites of the Methodist Medical Group (MMG)): Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Fishers, Family \& Internal Medicine South, or Family \& Internal Medicine East Washington.

You may not qualify if:

  • Undergoing workup for symptoms consistent with colon cancer, such as weight loss or rectal bleeding
  • Diagnosis or medical history conferring elevated risk for CRC including previous polypectomy or colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, certain inherited syndromes, or a significant family history of CRC, or
  • Inability to speak English and to fill out a questionnaire written in English.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

IU Health

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Rager JB, Althouse S, Perkins SM, Schmidt KK, Schwartz PH. Measuring the Impact of Quantitative Information on Patient Understanding: Approaches for Assessing the Adequacy of Patient Knowledge about Colorectal Cancer Screening. MDM Policy Pract. 2022 Nov 25;7(2):23814683221140122. doi: 10.1177/23814683221140122. eCollection 2022 Jul-Dec.

  • Schwartz PH, Perkins SM, Schmidt KK, Muriello PF, Althouse S, Rawl SM. Providing Quantitative Information and a Nudge to Undergo Stool Testing in a Colorectal Cancer Screening Decision Aid: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Med Decis Making. 2017 Aug;37(6):688-702. doi: 10.1177/0272989X17698678. Epub 2017 Apr 11.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Colonic Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Colorectal NeoplasmsIntestinal NeoplasmsGastrointestinal NeoplasmsDigestive System NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsDigestive System DiseasesGastrointestinal DiseasesColonic DiseasesIntestinal Diseases

Study Officials

  • Peter H. Schwartz, MD, PhD

    Indiana University School of Medicine

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
SCREENING
Intervention Model
FACTORIAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor of Medicine

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 2, 2011

First Posted

August 12, 2011

Study Start

August 1, 2011

Primary Completion

August 1, 2012

Study Completion

March 1, 2013

Last Updated

April 30, 2013

Record last verified: 2013-04

Locations