Making colorectal cancer screening easier and more automatic
Behavioral Economic Approaches for Population-based Colorectal Cancer Screening
This project compares two ways of inviting adults overdue for colorectal cancer screening—using doctor prompts and outreach—to help more people complete screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235900 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This effort works with University of Pennsylvania primary care clinics to set up a centralized program that uses clinician prompts in the electronic health record plus direct outreach to patients. Clinics are randomized to either offer only colonoscopy or to offer colonoscopy first and then a stool-based FIT test for people who decline, and outreach messages use behavioral nudges like opt-out framing and simpler choices. It is a three-year pragmatic trial run across 30 diverse primary care practices and includes about 20,000 average-risk patients who are overdue for screening. If you get care at a participating clinic and are overdue, you may receive reminders or offers from your clinician and be approached under the assigned invitation strategy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults at average risk for colorectal cancer who are overdue for screening and receive care at one of the participating primary care practices are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are already up-to-date with screening, those at high risk who need specialized care pathways, or anyone who does not get care at participating clinics are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase screening rates, reduce disparities, and help catch colorectal cancer earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Other trials using behavioral 'nudges' and reminder outreach have improved preventive screening in some settings, but combining EHR clinician nudges with sequential choice at this large, pragmatic scale is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mehta, Shivan Jatin — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Mehta, Shivan Jatin
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.