Effectiveness and Acceptability of Targeted Text Message Reminders in Colorectal Cancer Screening: Randomized Controlled Trial (M-TICS Study)

Identifier:  imarina:9380068

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9380068

Authors:  Vives, N; Travier, N; Farre, A; Binefa, G; Vidal, C; Perez-Lacasta, MJ; Ibáñez-Sanz, G; de Guzmán, EPN; Panera, JA; Garcia, M

Abstract:
Background: Mobile phone-based SMS text message reminders have the potential to improve colorectal cancer screeningparticipation rates. Objective: This study assessed the effectiveness and acceptability of adding targeted SMS text message reminders to the standardprocedure for those who picked up but did not return their screening kit at the pharmacy within 14 days in a colorectal cancerscreening program in Catalonia, Spain. Methods: We performed a randomized control trial among individuals who picked up a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kitfor colorectal cancer screening at the pharmacy but did not return it within 14 days. The intervention group (n=4563) receivedan SMS text message reminder on the 14th day of kit pick up and the control group (n=4806) received no reminder. A 30-dayreminder letter was sent to both groups if necessary. The main primary outcome was the FIT completion rate within 30, 60, and126 days from FIT kit pick up (intention-to-treat analysis). A telephone survey assessed the acceptability and appropriateness ofthe intervention. The cost-effectiveness of adding an SMS text message reminder to FIT completion was also performed. Results: The intervention group had higher FIT completion rates than the control group at 30 (64.2% vs 53.7%; P