Patient and physician reminders to promote colorectal cancer screening: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Screening reduces colorectal cancer mortality, but effective screening tests remain underused. Systematic reminders to patients and physicians could increase screening rates

Methods

We conducted a randomized controlled trial of patient and physician reminders in 11 ambulatory health care centers. Participants included 21 860 patients aged 50 to 80 years who were overdue for colorectal cancer screening and 110 primary care physicians. Patients were randomly assigned to receive mailings containing an educational pamphlet, fecal occult blood test kit, and instructions for direct scheduling of flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Physicians were randomly assigned to receive electronic reminders during office visits with patients overdue for screening. The primary ou

SUBMITTER: Sequist TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2683730 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature