SMARTScreen: Utilisation of an SMS intervention with evocative videos sent to GP patients who are overdue in their bowel cancer screening
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Project Leader
A/Prof Jennifer McIntosh,
jennifer.mcintosh@unimelb.edu.au
Project Details
The Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) is a national screening program that sends out a free, at-home immunochemical faecal occult blood test biennially to everyone between 50 and 74 years of age. Despite the ease of access, the current uptake is low (44%), especially in younger age groups (only 34% of 50–60-year-old participants complete the screening test). Increasing participation in the NBCSP is an Australian Government health priority as early detection and treatment of bowel cancer has the potential to save thousands of lives and millions of dollars. SMARTscreen was a cluster randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of sending an SMS on NBCSP participation. The SMARTscreen intervention was a personalised SMS that included an endorsement message about the NBCSP from the patient’s general practice, motivational videos and easy-to-follow instructional videos with detailed information about how to do the kit. The SMS was sent to patients from their general practice just before their NBCSP kit was due to be sent. The intervention was efficacious increasing screening by 16.5% (95% confidence interval 2.02 to 30.9%; p=0.03), and importantly sending and receiving the SMS combination was highly acceptable to patients and general practice staff, and feasible to incorporate into general practice.
Researchers
Associate Professor Jennifer McIntosh, The Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, and the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne
Professor Jon Emery, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne
Anna Wood, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Patty Chondros, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne
Collaborators
Dr Tina Campbell, Director, Healthily Pty Ltd
Ms. Edweana Wenkart, Director, Pen CS
Ms. Linda Govan, Western Victoria Primary Health Network
Mr. Ian Dixon, Consumer Advocate
Ms. Julie Toner, Consumer Advocate
Funding
Victorian Cancer Agency grant.
Research Outcomes
The SMARTscreen SMS prompt led to a 16.5% increase in the uptake of the faecal occult blood test to screen for bowel cancer in 50-60-year-old general practice patients. The findings informed the development and funding of the larger SMARTERscreen trial.