Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Colorectal cancer (CRC, also known as bowel cancer) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in England. Screening the at risk population for CRC by way of biennial faecal occult blood testing (FOBt) reduces CRC deaths by detecting CRC early, at a time when it is easier to treat. In England, the National Health Service (NHS) runs an organised population-based CRC screening programme (Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, BCSP), which offers biennial screening via guaiac-based faecal occult blood testing (gFOBt) to any men and women aged 60-74. With 54% overall uptake, CRC screening has the lowest uptake rate amongst all of the organised National Cancer Screening Programmes (Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening) in England. As such, there is an important need for interventions to promote uptake of FOBt in the capital to reduce inequalities in uptake. Increasing evidence demonstrates that General Practitioner (GP) endorsement promotes CRC screening uptake and there is a growing interest in the use text-message reminders to increase participation in cancer screening. The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a primary care based text-message reminder to promote CRC screening uptake in London.
Who can participate?
Adults aged between 60 to 75 who are eligible for bowel cancer screening.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Participants are sent an invitation letter with screening information booklet by their local Hub. They then receive the gFOBt kit and instructions 8-10 days letter. They are asked to collect samples of three separate bowel motions and send the completed kit back to the hub. A letter is sent after four weeks of non-response. Those allocated to the first group receive a text message reminder to send their kit back. Those in the second group receive the standard screening materials. Uptake in both groups will be measured at 18 weeks and compared for statistically significant differences.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at the time of registration.
Where is the study run from?
NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme London Hub (UK). This study will be conducted in 180 primary care practices in London.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2015 to January 2017
Who is funding the study?
North West London Hospitals Trust (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Christian von Wagner
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
A randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of primary care-based text-message reminders in facilitating uptake of colorectal cancer screening in London
Acronym
TRICCS
Study hypothesis
The aim of this study is to test the effectiveness (intention-to-treat analysis) and efficacy (per-protocol analysis) of primary care based text-message reminders to promote uptake of bowel cancer screening in London.
Ethics approval
1. East Midlands Derby Ethics Committee, 01/04/2015, ref: 15/EM/0159
2. Confidentiality Advisory Group,12/08/2015 ref: 15/CAG/0156
Study design
Non-clinical randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
GP practices
Trial type
Screening
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Bowel Cancer
Intervention
At age 60, and then every two years up to and including age 74, all patients registered with a GP and living in England (who have not explicitly opted out of screening) are sent an invitation letter with the screening information booklet by their local Hub. The gFOBt kit and instructions follow 8-10 days later. The individual is asked to collect samples from three separate bowel motions, and return the completed kit to the Hub in a pre-paid envelope for processing (see Figure 1). Repeat gFOBt kits are sent out following a ‘spoilt kit’, ‘technical failure’, or an ‘unclear result’. A reminder letter is sent after four weeks of non-response. The screening episode is closed if there has been no response within 13 weeks without another notification to the individual. The GP practices will receive a letter for their patients’ non-attendance. Following an abnormal result a referral is made to the local screening centre for further diagnostic investigations.
Intervention group:
People who are randomised to the intervention group will receive a text-message reminder in addition to the standard materials if they have not returned the test kit at eight weeks of their screening episode (i.e. three weeks after the ‘reminder letter’). The reminder text will include the name of the GP practice, GP endorsement, the purpose of the text-message, and guidance on where to get more information. The content of the text-message has been selected by a steering group involving patient representatives, GP Cancer Leads, Public Health England-Behavioural Insights Team and the BCSP London Hub.
Usual Care group:
Individuals in the control group will only receive the standard NHS CRC screening materials.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
The proportion of people classified as adequately screened within 18 weeks of the invitation letter in the control and intervention group.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Participant update in the control and intervention groups, is evaluated in the 18th week of the screening episode
2. The effect of the intervention on screening uptake by demographic variables (socioeconomic status i.e. Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) rank, gender, age, CCG and screening round) measured at the end of the intervention
Overall trial start date
06/07/2015
Overall trial end date
02/01/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged between 60 and 75
2. Registered with a participating London GP practice enrolled in the study.
3. Eligible for bowel cancer screening
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
3118
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Stoma patients who have had their entire large bowel removed
2. Stoma patients who have had an Ileostomy
3. Opted out from text-messaging services which is provided by their registered GP practice
Recruitment start date
01/12/2015
Recruitment end date
01/01/2017
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme London Hub
St Marks Bowel Cancer Screening Centre
St Marks Hospital,Watford Road
Harrow
Middlesex
London
HA1 3UJ
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University College London
Sponsor details
Joint Research Office
University College London
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT.
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
North West London Hospitals Trust
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
We are currently aiming to publish the study protocol before we commence with the trial in a peer reviewed journal. Furthermore, the results of the trial will be written up for publication in a peer reviewed journal and presented at conferences which will target health professionals, academics and policy makers.
Intention to publish date
01/12/2016
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2016 protocol in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26809344
2017 results in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28441381