Patient-specific physician alerts modestly boost colorectal cancer screening uptake
A cluster-randomised trial in France tested whether notifying GPs about individual non-adherent patients would increase fecal immunochemical test (FIT) participation. Patient-specific reminders yielded a small but significant 4.2% absolute increase in screening uptake at one year compared with usual care, while generic regional adherence reminders had no measurable effect. The results highlight that personalised outreach can improve screening programme performance.
The original study
Effect of Physician Notification Regarding Nonadherence to Colorectal Cancer Screening on Early Cancer Detection.
- Authors
- Schmeltz H, Rat C, Pogu C, Bianco G, Cowppli-Bony A, Gaultier A, et al.
- Journal
- JAMA
- Type
- Letter, Randomized Controlled Trial
- PMID
- 32543677
Original abstract
This cluster randomized clinical trial compares the effect of physician notification for colorectal cancer screening and cancer detection on patients who were in a patient-specific reminders group in which physicians received a list of nonadherent patients, in a generic reminders group in which physicians received general information about regional screening adherence, or in a usual care group in which physicians received no reminders.