Maximizing compliance with hemoccult screening for colon cancer in clinical practice.
A factorial design randomized controlled trial to test several clinically feasible strategies primary-care practitioners may use in routine practice to increase patient participation in occult blood testing for colorectal cancer is reported. Three compliance-enhancing intervention strategies (physician/nurse talk, and/or reminder postcard, and/or reminder phone call) were introduced. Patient health beliefs were examined as compliance predictors. High compliance levels were seen in all intervention groups, with a mean of 89% compared with 68% in controls. An interactive talk by the physician or nurse increased compliance by 12-13%. The reminder postcard was the most effective single intervention. It increased compliance by 24-25%, achieving 92.7% overall compliance, and appeared to be cost-effective. Patient health beliefs were of minimal value in predicting compliance in this study.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D009818:Office Nursing; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011897:Random Allocation; D013689:Telephone