Phone reminders increase screening rates
A brief automated phone reminder improved colon cancer screening rates in a study performed by Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research. Research indicated that these phone reminders may increase screening rates by up to 30 percent.
According to a release, the 2008 was study funded by the National Cancer Institute and appears in the July 2010 edition of Medical Care. The study involved nearly 6,000 Kaiser Permanente members aged 51- 80 who were overdue for colon cancer screening. Half received up to three reminder calls stressing the importance of screening and offering them an at-home kit to detect blood in the stool. Within six months, 22.5 percent of people who received reminder calls ordered and completed a stool card test, compared to only 16 percent of those who did not receive reminder calls.
Colon cancer is at least 90% curable if caught in its earliest stages. Screening guidelines suggest a colonoscopy beginning at age 50 for most adults. Those with a family history of the disease, or those experiencing symptoms should talk to their health care provider about getting screened at an earlier age. However, many adults are reluctant to have a colonoscopy performed. An FOTB (fecal occult blood test) may be a reasonable alternative. Positive results from the FOTB may indicate any number of conditions and should be followed by further testing.
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