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| Ranking |
Evidence-Based Practice |
| Description |
This program used mailed materials for patients and electronic reminders for physicians to promote colorectal cancer screening. The program targeted patients aged 50 to 80 years who were overdue for colorectal cancer screening. Patient mailings included an educational pamphlet, fecal occult blood test home screening kit and return envelope, and instructions for directly scheduling a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. The mailing included a letter from their health care provider indicating that they were overdue for screening. Electronic reminders were sent to health care providers during office visits with patients who were overdue for screening. The reminders appeared on the electronic visit summary screen, and included simplified electronic ordering of screening examinations. |
| Goal / Mission |
The goal of this program is to increase colorectal cancer screening rates among older primary care patients. |
| Results / Accomplishments |
In a randomized controlled trial patients and physicians receiving reminders were compared to a control group receiving usual care. In the 15 months following the intervention, screening rates were signiifcantly higher for patients who received mailings compared with those who did not (44.0% vs. 38.1%; p < 0.001). This effect increased with age, with a 3.7% increase for ages 50 to 59 years, 7.3% for ages 60 to 69, and 10.1% for ages 70 to 80 (p = 0.01 for trend). Screening rates were similar for patients of physicians receiving electronic reminders and the control group, however electronic reminders tended to increase screening rates among patients with 3 or more primary care visits (59.5% vs. 52.7%; p = 0.07). Detection of adenomas tended to increase with patient mailings (5.7% vs. 5.2%; p = 0.10) and physician reminders (6.0% vs. 4.9%; p = 0.09). |
| Categories |
Health / Cancer
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Access to Health Services
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| Organization(s) |
Harvard Medical School, Harvard Vanguard Medical Association |
| Source |
Archives of Internal Medicine |
| Date of Publication |
Feb 2009 |
| Date of Implementation |
Apr 2006 |
| Location |
State: Massachusetts |
| Primary Contact |
Thomas Sequist
Department of Health Care Policy
Harvard Medical School
180 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 432-3447
sequist@hcp.med.harvard.edu
http://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/
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| For more details |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19237720?ito...
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| Target Audience |
Adults, Elderly |
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