Patient activation increases colorectal cancer screening rates: A randomized trial among low-income minority patients
Menée aux Etats-Unis auprès de 270 participants à faibles revenus et venant de minorités ethniques, cet essai randomisé évalue l'impact d'une meilleure information et d'une incitation téléphonique à se faire dépister sur leur participation effective au dépistage du cancer colorectal
Background:Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates remain low among low-income and minority populations. The purpose of this study was to determine if providing patients with screening information, activating them to ask for a screening test, and telephone barriers counseling improves CRC screening rates compared to providing screening information only. Methods:Patients were randomized to CRC screening information plus patient activation and barriers counseling (n=138) or CRC screening information (n=132). Barriers counseling was attempted among activated patients if screening was not completed after one month. CRC screening test completion was determined by medical record review at two months after the medical visit. Logistic regression was used to determine whether activated patients were more likely to complete CRC screening, after adjustment for confounding factors (e.g. demographic characteristics, CRC knowledge). Results:Patients were African American (72.2%), female (63.7%), had annual household incomes <$20,000 (60.7%), no health insurance (57.0%), and limited health literacy skills (53.7%). In adjusted analyses, more patients randomized to the activation group completed a screening test (19.6% vs. 9.9%; OR=2.35, 95%CI: 1.14, 5.56; p=0.020). Additionally, more activated patients reported discussing screening with their provider (54.4% vs. 27.5%, OR=3.29, 95%CI: 1.95, 5.56; p<0.001) and had more screening tests ordered (39.1% vs. 17.6%; OR=3.40, 95%CI: 1.88, 6.15; p<0.001) compared to those in the control group. Conclusions:Patient activation increased CRC screening rates among low-income minority patients. Impact:Innovative strategies are still needed to increase CRC screening discussions, motivate providers to recommend screening to patients, as well as assist patients to complete ordered screening tests.