Implementing a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) system to increase colorectal cancer screening: a process evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) systems used by telephone counselors (TCs) may be efficient mechanisms to counsel patients on cancer and recommended preventive screening tests in order to extend a primary care provider's reach to his/her patients. The implementation process of such a system for promoting colorectal (CRC) cancer screening using a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) system is reported in this paper.


METHODS
The process evaluation assessed three components of the intervention: message production, program implementation and audience reception.


RESULTS
Of 1181 potentially eligible patients, 1025 (87%) patients were reached by the TCs and 725 of those patients (71%) were eligible to receive counseling. Five hundred eighty-two (80%) patients agreed to counseling.


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to design and use CATI systems for prevention counseling of patients in primary care practices.


CONCLUSIONS
CATI systems have the potential of being used as a referral service by primary care providers and health care organizations for patient education.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. maryjo.white@umassmed.edu
Mary Jo
MJ
White
Jennifer R
JR
Stark
Roger
R
Luckmann
Milagros C
MC
Rosal
Lynn
L
Clemow
Mary E
ME
Costanza
D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003663:Decision Trees; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008404:Massachusetts; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013689:Telephone