Journal article

SMARTERscreen protocol: a three-arm cluster randomised controlled trial of patient SMS messaging in general practice to increase participation in the Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

JG McIntosh, JD Emery, A Wood, P Chondros, BC Goodwin, J Trevena, C Wilson, S Chang, J Hocking, T Campbell, F Macrae, K Milley, JB Lew, C Nightingale, I Dixon, M Castelli, N Lee, L Innes, T Jolley, S Fletcher Show all

Trials | BMC | Published : 2023

Open access

Abstract

Background: Australia persistently has one of the highest rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the world. Australia’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) sends a biennial Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)—the ‘NBCSP kit’—to everyone eligible for the programme between 50 and 74 years old; however, participation in the programme is low, especially in the 50- to 60-year-old age group. Our previous efficacy trial (‘SMARTscreen’) demonstrated an absolute increase in uptake of 16.5% (95% confidence interval = 2.02–30.9%) for people sent an SMS with motivational and instructional videos, from their general practice prior to receiving their NBCSP kit, compared to those receiving usual care..

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Grants

Awarded by Victorian Cancer Agency


Funding Acknowledgements

This trial is funded by NHMRC TCR-Participation in Cancer Screening Programs (ID2014703).r JE, MJ, and JBL are supported by NHMRC Investigator Fellowships. MJ, JM, SF, and LB are supported by the NHMRC Synergy Grant (ID2010268). CEN is supported by a Mid-Career Research Fellowship (MCRF21039) from the Victorian Government acting through the Victorian Cancer Agency, Victoria, Australia.r The trial is supported by the Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4).