Text Messaging Versus Postal Reminders for Colorectal Cancer Screening
Study Overview
This study compared the effectiveness of SMS text message reminders to traditional postal reminders for increasing participation in a colorectal cancer screening program in Catalonia, Spain.
Key Findings
- Participants: Individuals aged 50 to 69 who were invited for screening but hadn’t completed their tests.
- Groups:
- Intervention group (12,167): Received SMS reminders.
- Control group (12,221): Received standard postal reminders.
- Results:
- SMS group participation: 17.2%.
- Control group participation: 21.9%.
- After a second letter reminder, SMS group participation increased to 29.3%.
- Control group participation remained at 26.5%.
Conclusions
Using SMS reminders alone did not improve participation rates. However, sending a second postal reminder significantly boosted participation among those who initially did not respond to the SMS. More research is needed to find the best timing and frequency for reminders to encourage participation without overwhelming patients.
Practical Solutions and Value
To enhance participation in screening programs:
- Consider combining SMS reminders with follow-up postal reminders.
- Utilize AI-driven platforms like DocSym to streamline communication and improve patient engagement.
- Implement mobile apps for better scheduling and monitoring of patient care.
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