Steps towards increasing bowel cancer screening uptake: a randomised controlled trial
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN39941749 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN39941749 |
| EudraCT/CTIS number | n/a |
| IRAS number | 224425 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov number | n/a |
| Secondary identifying numbers | IRAS224425_V6_22.05.17 |
- Submission date
- 23/02/2018
- Registration date
- 02/03/2018
- Last edited
- 22/04/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Cancer
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Bowel cancer screening uptake has traditionally been lower than the government would like it to be. As screening can spot early signs of cancer and even stop bowel cancer from occurring, the public health service would like to improve screening rates.
This study aims to test a set of new, evidence-based materials, informed by psychological theory, to increase the return of the stool-based bowel cancer screening kit the NHS uses, in the North East region of England.
Who can participate?
Adults age 60 – 74 years eligible for bowel cancer screening
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of four groups. All participants are sent an initial invitation letter for bowel cancer screening and the standard NHS information booklet.
Those in the first group receive an intervention pack four days after the letter, with an information sheet and short paper based task encouraging them to connect barriers likely to be encountered with effective responses. They receive the bowel cancer screening test four days later.
Participants in the second group receive an intervention pack containing the information sheet and a motivational leaflet. They receive the screening kit in the post four days later.
Participants in the third group receive both of the above intervention packs in the post four days after the initial letter, before the screening kit four days later.
Participants in the last group receive no additional information, and get a screening kit in the post eight days after the initial letter.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants help to improve bowel cancer screening services for their own and others future health needs. There are no risks associated with the study as all participants receive the usual care.
Where is the study run from?
North East Bowel Cancer Screening Hub (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2016 to July 2018
Who is funding the study?
Yorkshire Cancer Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof Daryl O’Connor (Scientific)
d.b.oconnor@leeds.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
School of Psychology
University of Leeds
Leeds
LS2 9JT
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-4117-4093 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)113 343 5727 |
| d.b.oconnor@leeds.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | 2 x 2 cluster randomised controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Cluster randomised trial |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Screening |
| Participant information sheet | PIS is not available in web format, please contact A.I.Tsipa11@leeds.ac.uk. to request a PIS |
| Scientific title | Effectiveness of a health behaviour change intervention to promote bowel cancer screening uptake: a randomised controlled trial |
| Study acronym | STICS trial |
| Study objectives | The delivery of a new, low-cost, health behaviour change intervention will be effective in increasing uptake of bowel cancer screening in the North East of England. A randomised controlled trial will test a) an implementation intentions-based intervention, b) a motivational-based intervention and c) their combination, against d) a control group receiving usual care. We hypothesise that participants in any of the three intervention groups will have higher screening uptake in comparison to the Control group and that people in the Combination group will have higher screening uptake in comparison to the other three study groups. |
| Ethics approval(s) | 1. Health Research Authority Research Ethics Committee, 10/10/2017, ref: 17/ES/0085 2. Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG), 10/10/2017, ref: 17/CAG/0119 3. NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Research Ethics Committee, 23/11/17, ref: BCSPRAC_184 (ODR 1617_264) 4. Office of Data Release, 29/01/2018, ref: ODR1617_264 (BCSPRAC_184) |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Bowel cancer |
| Intervention | Participants are randomised to one of four groups to evaluate the separate and combined effects of two psychological, evidence-based interventions. All participants are sent an initial letter of invitation for bowel cancer screening and the standard NHS information booklet and the different groups receive one of the following before being sent a guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBT): 1) Implementations Intentions (IMPS) intervention: Four days after the initial letter participants receive an intervention pack containing an information sheet and a short, implementation intentions, paper-based task designed to help them construct effective 'if-then' plans. This involves connecting barriers likely to be encountered (IFs) with effective responses (THENs) to aid participants' decision-making process with regards to completion of the guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBT) screening kit, which is sent in the post four days later. 2) Motivational intervention: Four days after the initial letter, participants receive an intervention pack containing an information sheet and a motivational-intervention leaflet. The leaflet contains information regarding some of the social norms surrounding bowel cancer screening (e.g. how many people do engage in screening) and is designed to motivate participants to take part in gFOBT screening. Participants receive the gFOBT screening kit four days later. 3) Combination intervention: Four days after the initial letter, participants receive an intervention pack containing an information sheet, an implementation intentions paper-based task and a motivational-intervention leaflet. Participants read the information sheet, motivational leaflet and complete the short implementation intentions tasks to help them plan to use their screening kit when it arrives approximately four days later. 4) Control group: Participants receive the gFOBT screening kit eight days after the initial letter (usual care). |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Screening uptake measured by the proportion of people in each intervention condition returning an adequate gFOBT kit within 8 weeks of being sent an invitation |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Time taken by participant to return kit 2. Variation in screening uptake (defined as the return of an adequate gFOBT kit within 8 weeks of being sent an invitation) by 2.1. Gender 2.2. Age 2.3. Past screening history 2.4. Level of socioeconomic deprivation |
| Overall study start date | 01/06/2016 |
| Completion date | 31/07/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 20,000 |
| Total final enrolment | 34633 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Men and women eligible to be screened for bowel cancer in the North East region of England 2. Aged between 60-74 years |
| Key exclusion criteria | Participants that are classed as Type II objectors |
| Date of first enrolment | 05/03/2018 |
| Date of final enrolment | 12/04/2018 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centres
Sheriff Hill
Gateshead
NE9 6SX
United Kingdom
Boar Lane
Leeds
LS1 6AE
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
University/education
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Room 9.29, Level 9
Worsley Building, Clarendon way
University of Leeds
Leeds
LS2 9JT
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)113 3437587 |
|---|---|
| j.m.uniacke@leeds.ac.uk | |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/024mrxd33 |
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Government organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
- Alternative name(s)
- YCR
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/07/2019 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | It is planned that the study will be written up and published in a high-impact peer reviewed journal. This will be approximately a year following data analysis following the end of the study. |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request using the contact details above. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 01/11/2020 | 22/04/2021 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No |
Editorial Notes
22/04/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
