27 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
This clinical trial studies whether an intervention that addresses two or more levels of care (multilevel intervention) increases follow-up of abnormal, non-invasive, colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test results. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a non-invasive, stool-based, CRC screening test. FITs are relatively inexpensive and can be completed at home, for these reasons, it is a preferred method of CRC screening in healthcare settings that care for under-resourced patients or have limited colonoscopy access. For FIT-based CRC screening to be effective, abnormal results must be followed by a colonoscopy, however many patients fail to complete this recommended follow-up test. The multilevel intervention addresses barriers to follow-up colonoscopy at the patient and health system levels of care through a CRC screening patient navigator, an educational video, and transportation assistance. The navigator provides patient support and assistance with colonoscopy scheduling. The educational video addresses identified patient fears around colonoscopies. Transportation assistance is offered after the colonoscopy through a rideshare program to address transportation barriers. Therefore, this multilevel intervention may increase follow-up colonoscopy completion in patients with abnormal FIT results.
This clinical trial evaluates a clinic-wide intervention called Primary Care-Gastrointestinal (GI) Connect for improving follow-up colonoscopy rates in patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) who have an abnormal fecal immunochemical test (FIT) result. Colorectal cancer screening reduces colorectal cancer incidence and mortality but is underutilized.The most accessible, feasible, and common colorectal cancer screening modality for average-risk individuals in low resource settings such as FQHCs is the stool-based FIT. However, the benefit of FIT screening on colorectal cancer risk is realized only if individuals with abnormal FIT results undergo timely follow-up colonoscopy. Follow-up colonoscopy rates are low and there are many barriers to follow-up colonoscopy in safety net settings such as FQHCs. Effective interventions that are multi-component and improve care coordination are needed to improve abnormal FIT follow-up rates in FQHCs. The Primary Care-GI Connect intervention includes components that enhance care coordination, standardize the referral process, and engage both primary care and specialist physicians. This clinic-wide intervention may improve rates of follow-up colonoscopy after abnormal FIT results in patients seen at FQHCs.
This clinical trial compares an educational video intervention versus usual care of no video intervention in decreasing patient fear of a colonoscopy procedure after receiving a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT). The lack of a follow-up colonoscopy after an abnormal FIT result is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer mortality, advanced-stage colorectal cancer, among other complications, compared to the completion of a follow-up colonoscopy. An educational video may reduce patient fear and increase knowledge, self-efficacy, and intent to complete a colonoscopy compared to the usual care of no video intervention.
This is a pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial of a geographically randomized intervention in which all eligible patients will receive a mailed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit (the GeoMail study). In this study, all ZIP Codes in Dallas County will be randomized to either treatment or usual care. Patients in treated neighborhoods will receive kits at the same time; patients in usual care neighborhoods will receive FIT kits randomly throughout the year. All eligible patients will receive a FIT kit each year. The trial will be conducted in a racially and socioeconomically diverse cohort of patients served by an integrated safety net delivery system. This study represents a pragmatic adaptation to the "FIT first" population health screening strategy in which all eligible patients are mailed FIT kits. All patients will also have access to whatever colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is recommended through usual visit-based care.
This study will investigate the use of digital rectal exam (DRE) to obtain stool samples for the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) in patients due for screening colonoscopy and in pre-operative patients with known colorectal cancer. FIT is currently FDA-approved for spontaneous stool and DRE, however, samples are not commonly obtained by DRE. In addition, some clinicians remain skeptical about the accuracy of FIT using stool obtained from DRE. This study aims to assess the correlation between FIT using the stool sample from DRE (FIT-DRE) and standard of care FIT (FIT-SOC). If good correlation is shown, the investigators may be able to demonstrate efficacy of FIT using a DRE in the clinic setting. This may help avoid logistical barriers, as well as improve compliance and adherence to colon cancer screening in the outpatient setting, eventually leading to improved quality of care.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Screening for CRC reduces CRC mortality, yet rates of screening in the United States remain low. Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) has an established positive balance of benefit and risk, is the least expensive, and is the preferred method for nearly half of patients. A newer fecal screening test, the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), offers significant improvements over the FOBT. It is easier to use and is more sensitive at detecting both CRC and precancerous adenomas than the FOBT. The OC-Micro FIT is of particular interest because it is highly sensitive and specific and it is the only FIT test approved in the US that can be processed in an automated manner. Thus, the OC-Micro is an optimal method for use in mass screening programs to improve community CRC-screening rates. However, prior studies of OC-Micro suffer from several limitations: they were conducted in populations not optimal for assessing screening performance in average risk patients in the U.S. and the studies did not clearly establish optimal number of samples required and cut-points for test positivity. Therefore, the overall goal of MY-FIT is to capitalize on the highly integrated and extensive electronic medical record system of the study site to collect two separate sets of data that, when synthesized, will provide a thorough picture of the comparative patient adherence to, sensitivity, specificity, and costs of different protocols for using the OC-Micro FIT. Specifically, among KPNW members aged 50-75 who are at average risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) and who are due for CRC screening (n=78,000), the investigators propose to: 1. Compare the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for colorectal cancer and advanced adenoma (advanced neoplasia) between a single-sample FIT (1-FIT) and a two-sample FIT (2-FIT) using varying cut points for a positive test (n=2100). 2. Compare patient adherence to completion of a 1-FIT versus a 2-FIT protocol (n=3000). 3. Assess and compare cost per screen for a 1-FIT versus a 2-FIT protocol, and the cost per advanced neoplasia detected in a 1-FIT versus a 2-FIT protocol (using varying cut points for a positive test) (n=78,000). Answering the above questions will provide a much-needed strong evidence base for a best-practice, cost-effective method of using the OC-Micro FIT to screen for CRC in a general U.S. population.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States and affects men and women almost equally. The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) currently recommends screening with any of three options, which include fecal testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy. Screening for CRC with fecal occult blood testing (using a guaiac-based test) done annually or biennially has been shown to decrease mortality 15-33% primarily through detection of early stage cancer. Guaiac fecal occult blood testing (gFOBT) has a known positive balance of benefit and risk in screening populations, is the least expensive, and is the preferred method of screening in 30-55% of patients. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) offers significant improvements over the gFOBT, most notably that it is easier to use (requires fewer samples and no dietary or medication restrictions) and is more sensitive than the gFOBT with respect to detecting both CRC and precancerous adenomas. As a result of improved test performance and usability, in 2008 multiple professional societies endorsed the use of four types of FITs for colorectal cancer screening. Kaiser Permanente currently uses the OC-Micro FIT as the fecal screening test in all regions. In recent years, intensive efforts have been undertaken to identify blood-based markers that may provide a promising alternative or supplement to fecal testing for non-invasive CRC screening. One method under development is to identify aberrantly methylated genes in cancer tissue through a blood test. Prior studies have explored those specific colorectal cancer genes that show the highest differences in methylation between the cancer and background genetic expression. Of these, methylation of the Septin 9 gene through a qPCR assay is relatively well studied. The proposed study aims to evaluate whether the Septin 9 biomarker may be used to supplement the OC-Micro FIT for colorectal cancer screening in such a way as to safely reduce unneeded colonoscopies. The population of interest for this study-those with a positive screening OC-Micro fecal immunochemical test-has a CRC prevalence of approximately 5%. Knowing how well Septin 9 can identify those without cancer prior to colonoscopy is important largely because colonoscopy, even when done diagnostically (e.g., after a positive FIT result), can cause serious complications.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States, and one of the most preventable cancers. It has been shown in several randomized controlled trials that screening using fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) reduces CRC mortality by 13-33%. While there is strong consensus amongst experts regarding the value of CRC screening, the best approach to screening is not clear. Of the widely recommended modalities, FOBT and colonoscopy are the most commonly used within the United States. FOBT is inexpensive, non-invasive, and its use as a screening tool is supported by the highest quality evidence (i.e. randomized controlled trials). Moreover, newer FOBT, such as fecal immunochemical tests or FITs, have advantages over conventional FOBT in terms of both test characteristics and ease of use that make them quite attractive as a population-based screening tool. While colonoscopy is invasive and has higher up-front risks and costs than FOBT, it does afford the opportunity to directly assess the colonic mucosa and is widely believed to be the best test to detect colorectal cancer. In addition, colonoscopy allows for the detection and removal of colorectal adenomas -a well recognized colorectal cancer precursor. There is indirect evidence that suggests colonoscopy is effective in reducing colorectal cancer mortality, but to date, no large clinical trials have been completed to support this assumption. While colonoscopy use is increasing, data is emerging that colonoscopy may not be as effective as previously believed. Prior support for colonoscopy as a screening test relied upon effectiveness estimates that now appear to be overly optimistic. Given the invasive nature of colonoscopy, the associated small, but real risk of complications, and dramatically higher costs than other screening tests, it is especially important to determine the true comparative effectiveness of colonoscopy relative to other proven non-invasive options. The investigators propose to perform a, large, simple, multicenter, randomized, parallel group trial directly comparing screening colonoscopy with annual FIT screening in average risk individuals. The hypothesis is that colonoscopy will be superior to FIT in the prevention of colorectal cancer mortality measured over 10 years. Individuals will be enrolled if they are currently eligible for CRC screening (e.g. no colonoscopy in the past 10 years and no FOBT in the past 1 year) and are between 50 and 75 years of age. The investigators will exclude individuals for whom colonoscopy is indicated (e.g. signs or symptoms of CRC, first degree family member with CRC, personal history of colorectal neoplasia or inflammatory bowel disease). All participants will complete baseline demographic, medication, and lifestyle questionnaires (e.g. diet, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory use, frequency of exercise) prior to randomization in a 1:1 ratio to either screening colonoscopy or annual FIT screening (Figure 1). Those testing positive by FIT will undergo evaluation to determine appropriateness for colonoscopy. Screening will be performed in a manner consistent with the currently accepted standard of care in order to determine the comparative effectiveness of the two screening strategies. Participants will be surveyed annually to determine if they have undergone colonoscopy or been diagnosed with CRC. The primary study endpoint will be CRC mortality within 10 years of enrollment. The secondary endpoints are (1) the incidence of CRC within 10 years of enrollment and (2) major complications of colonoscopy. Mortality will be determined through queries of the VA Vital Status File. Cause of death will be determined primarily using death certificates from the National Death Index-Plus database, augmented by adjudication of medical records for known CRC cases where CRC is not listed as a cause of death on the death certificate. The investigators postulate that screening colonoscopy will result in a 40% reduction in CRC mortality over 10 years relative to annual FIT screening. Using a log-rank test with a 2-sided test of significance, =0.05, a sample size of 50,000 participants will be required to test the primary hypothesis with 82% power, assuming a 1% annual rate of crossover from FIT to colonoscopy and a 0.5% annual rate of loss to follow-up. The planned study duration is 12.5 years with 2.5 years of recruitment and 10 years of follow-up for all enrolled participants.
Behavioral economics principles have increasingly been shown to improve health outcomes in the United States. They offer the ability to implement simple, low-cost and effective interventions to address key health issues without sacrificing the autonomy of patients. Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is a key area where behavioral economics principles can help improve health outcomes. Despite being the second leading cause of cancer related death, the rate of CRC screening remains well below national targets. Interventions to address these issues, and improve screening rates at our institution have including implementing a Mailed FIT outreach program, and adding an informational letter that utilizes behavioral economic principles. To further improve our screening rates, this project builds upon our previous efforts to include a randomized electronic message primer via patients electronic patient portal, to help alert them of incoming FIT Kit and complete screening. This study will contribute to the growing literature of behavioral economics in medicine, while addressing an important health issue.
The study will determine if adding fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) at yearly intervals to a colonoscopy screening program will improve colon cancer detection rates.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate if a behavioral nudge principle known as social norm driver can be implemented to improve fecal immunochemical test (FIT) completion rates for patients' age 45-75 years old due for colorectal cancer screening at Bellevue Hospital Medicine Ambulatory Care Clinic. The study's endpoints include FIT screening completion rate and timeliness. Secondary analysis will look at demographic information such as age group, gender, prior screening, number of prior visits at the clinic.
The objective of this study is to measure the comparative effectiveness of mailed outreach of two stool based tests, multi-target stool DNA (Cologuard) and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) in screening eligible adults ages 45-49 receiving care at the University of California San Diego Health system.
This study aims to assess whether follow-up calls can increase the return rate of mailed FIT Kits. To assess this, a randomly selected half of eligible patients were randomized to receive a follow-up call reminding the patient to return the FIT Kit.
This study aims to assess whether sending patients in a county health care system additional FIT Kits can increase the FIT Kit return rate enough to warrant the extra cost. To do this, the health system mailed a random subset of patients ages 60 to 75 a FIT Kit in November 2024 in addition to sending patients an annual FIT Kit mailing. This work analyzes the return rate of mailed FIT Kits within 60-days of the November mailing.
This study assesses the effectiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening intervention, mobile Patient Technology for Health (mPATH™-Cloud), compared to usual care among subjects who are overdue for CRC screening according to recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF). The trial randomly selects and enrolls 1,000 eligible subjects served by one federally qualified health center (FQHC) in North Carolina. Subjects are randomized to two study arms, Usual Care (Arm 1) or Mobile Health Decision Support (Arm 2). Usual care consists of a visit-based screening recommendation to complete a stool test (e.g., FOBT, FIT, Cologuard) or referral to a screening colonoscopy. Subjects randomized to the Mobile Health Decision Support (Arm 2) are sent a message by text or US mail, depending on their preferred communication mode as indicated in the electronic health record (EHR), to visit the mPATH™-Cloud website. Subjects who engage with mPATH™-Cloud are invited to answer brief questions to confirm their eligibility and then view a short decision aid video designed to help people choose the CRC screening test (FIT or colonoscopy) that they would like to receive. After watching the video, subjects can choose a CRC screening test. Their primary care provider at the FQHC orders the appropriate test and, where indicated, refers the subjects to a colonoscopy. Subjects who request FIT screening and subjects who do not select any test receive a FIT mailed to their home address. The primary outcome of interest is CRC screening completion within 6 months after randomization as assessed by EHR chart review. A completed screening is any of the following: colonoscopy completion (regardless of indication); 2) at least one FIT test with a normal result; or diagnostic colonoscopy following an abnormal FIT result. We hypothesize that we will observe a higher CRC screening completion rate in the Mobile Health Decision Support intervention arm (Arm 2). This study includes up to three annual rounds of screening eligibility assessment and outreach. Repeated intervention rounds allow us to evaluate whether the intervention can improve adherence to USPSTF recommendations over time. During the 3-year intervention phase, Arm 1 receives usual care only.
This is a multi-site comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing annual fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) and colonoscopy for post-polypectomy surveillance among adults aged 65-82 with a history of colorectal polyps who are due for surveillance colonoscopy.
This study aims to test the effectiveness of a patient navigation program for increasing colonoscopy completion for colorectal cancer screening, among rural populations. The study will partner with geographically disparate primary care organizations to recruit patients aged 45-75 to the study. The patient navigation program will be delivered through a community organization. This project is critical in advancing our knowledge of the effectiveness of patient navigation for increasing colonoscopy in this patient population as well as for understanding factors that can support long term implementation and sustainability of effective interventions.
This study is to assess the impact of the CARES-REACH intervention on colorectal cancer screening rates.
The investigators will expand an existing, patient-centered, health literacy strategy to promote longer-term adherence to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in resource-limited, rural health clinics via colonoscopy or annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT). In the proposed 2-arm study, both PRIME-CRC and enhanced usual care (control) will incorporate health literacy evidence-based practices for delivering CRC patient information and counseling to aid patient decision making for selecting FIT or colonoscopy, including simplified test instructions. In addition, the PRIME-CRC arm will use a "stepped care" approach for reminding patients on proper CRC screening preparation for scheduled colonoscopy or completion of annual FIT. Patients in the PRIME-CRC arm will receive frequent follow-up contact from their health care provider via audio-recorded, automated call or SMS text, based on patient preference.
The purpose of this study is to test if including personalization in education materials about colorectal cancer screening is more effective at helping encourage people to complete colorectal cancer screening.
Participants will be mailed an invitation to complete CRC screening along with a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit, containing a 1-sample "Polymedco Over the Counter (OC) Sensor FIT", simplified English/Spanish instructions on performing the test, educational information about colorectal cancer screening and a return mailer with prepaid postage. Processes that will be used to promote screening completion include automated and "live" phone call reminders to encourage completion of FIT testing. Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 5 interventions across 3 conditions, described below: 1. Condition 1 (Standard Intervention): * Branch I: Participants assigned to the control condition will receive a FIT kit and the standard invitation letter to participate in free screening. 2. Condition 2 (Time Guideline): * Branch II: Participants will receive a FIT kit and invitation letter to participate in free screening with a 1-week time restriction. * Branch III: Participants will receive a FIT kit and invitation letter to participate in free screening with a 3-week time restriction. 3. Condition 3 (Time Guideline + Incentive): * Branch IV: Participants will receive a FIT kit and invitation letter to participate in free screening requesting they return the kit within 1-week for a "higher" monetary incentive or within 3 weeks for a "lower" (half of the higher) monetary incentive. * Branch V: Participants will receive a FIT kit and invitation letter to participate in free screening requesting they return the kit within 1-week for a "higher" (same as lower in Branch IV) monetary incentive or within 3 weeks for a "lower" (half of the higher) monetary incentive. Participants with a normal test result will receive a personal letter confirming this with invitations to complete a repeat screening in subsequent year(s). Participants receiving an abnormal FIT result will be navigated to complete a diagnostic colonoscopy. Participants continuing in the screening program in subsequent years will receive letters emphasizing the importance of repeat screening to prevent adverse CRC outcomes.
In the proposed project the investigators will evaluate two different follow-up approaches to improve low income patients' completion of initial and annual colorectal cancer (CRC) screening using the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), the most sensitive FOBT. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two distinct follow-up strategies to promote CRC screening: a prevention coordinator (PC) approach vs. an automated telephone reminder (ATR) system. The investigators will adapt a successful intervention tested in the Health Literacy and Cancer Screening Project by adding a follow-up strategy to the health literacy intervention. Specific Aims: The investigators Primary Aims are to: 1. Compare the effectiveness of the PC and ATR strategies to improve initial and repeat CRC screening. 2. Compare the cost effectiveness of the PC and ATR strategies for initial and repeat CRC screening. The investigators Secondary Aims are to: 3. Conduct a process evaluation of both follow-up strategies to investigate implementation and barriers 4. Determine if the effects of either strategy vary by patients' literacy skills. 5. Explore patient characteristics associated with CRC screening knowledge, beliefs, self-efficacy, and compliance over time between study arms.
The investigators propose a screening population-based study to systematically evaluate the accuracy and clinical relevance of sDNA testing as a potential alternative to colonoscopy screening. In addition, the investigators propose a genetic epidemiologic study of the relation between colon polyps, an established precursor of colon cancer, and two factors that may influence risk for colon cancer: candidate genes and diet.
The goal of the study is to conduct a randomized clinical trial to test several office-based strategies for improving colon cancer screening among individuals who are regular patients at 16 family practice physician offices in the state of Iowa. These offices are members of the Iowa Research Network (IRENE), a rural practice-based research network. The interventions to be tested are increasing in intensity from the usual care provided in the office, to physician chart reminders, mailed educational materials to patients, a fecal immunochemical test with postage-paid return envelope, and a telephone call designed to determine attitudes and barriers to screening, and to motivate subjects to get screened. Our main research questions are: 1)do attitudes toward CRC screening change after providing educational materials about CRC screening? 2)do mailed educational materials and a FIT, with or without a telephone reminder, result in increased rates of CRC testing with the FIT?
The Black community has higher rates of colorectal cancer and lower rates of colorectal cancer screenings than whites. Getting screened through FIT testing may help catch colorectal cancer earlier, when it is easier to treat. MSK has created a program to help people who have been FIT tested to also help their peers (family, friends, and colleagues) in their community get FIT tested. The researchers think that training people on peer outreach, such as telling people in your social network about FIT testing and how to get it, may increase the rate of colorectal cancer screening. The purpose of this study is to see if training people on peer outreach increases the number of people who get screened for colorectal cancer through FIT testing.
This study seeks to determine whether a patient navigator can help improve follow up care after a stool test shows the presence of blood or other abnormal markers.
The purpose of our study is to evaluate the diagnostic validity of a new immunofecal occult blood test (IFOBT) (Teco Diagnostics) in U.S. veterans and to compare it with the guaiac based FOBT.