Tailored Messaging for CRC Screening

Patient-directed Messaging to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening

This is a randomized controlled trial to to determine whether direct, tailored messaging to patients prior to scheduling colonoscopy will increase patient adherence to provider recommendation for screening colonoscopy.

The proposed study is a prospective, randomized trial. All eligible subjects (patients identified to be contacted to schedule screening colonoscopy) will be randomized to one of three study arms: usual scheduling process (control), a generic message arm, or a tailored message arm. Patients in the "tailored message" arm will receive a telephone call and be asked a series of questions that will be used to assign patients to one of four messaging cohorts. After these questions have been answered, the patient will then receive a tailored message corresponding to his or her respective messaging cohort, encouraging them to schedule a colonoscopy with a directed script. In the "generic message" arm, patients will receive a telephone call and be asked to answer the same series of questions as the "tailored message" group, then receive a single, standard script encouraging them to schedule a colonoscopy.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) patients with an active order for screening or surveillance colonoscopy without an existing colonoscopy appointment
2. 50-75 years of age
3. Due for CRC screening or surveillance (defined as no evidence of: colonoscopy in the past 5 years, fecal immunochemical testing in the past 12 months, flexible sigmoidoscopy or CT colonography in the past 5 years, stool DNA test or Cologuard in the last 3 years)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age <50 or >75
2. Pregnant woman
3. Evidence of prior colonoscopy in the past 5 years, fecal immunochemical testing in the past 12 months, flexible sigmoidoscopy or CT colonography in the past 5 years, fecal DNA test or Cologuard in the last 3 years
4. History of colorectal cancer
5. History of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or Ulcerative colitis)
6. History of colon surgery or resection
7. History of symptoms concerning for colorectal cancer, such as lower GI bleeding, within the past 6 months
8. Family history of a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)
9. Current serious medical condition with estimated life expectancy of less than 6 months, such as incurable cancer, end-stage congestive heart failure, decompensated cirrhosis, end stage renal disease, etc.
10. Dementia
11. Does not speak English
12. No telephone number listed in electronic medical record
13. Has any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, excludes the patient from participating in this study