Activating Collaborative CIS Support Via Targeted Provider Mailing

OBJECTIVES:

• Compare the effect of a usual care mailing intervention vs a Cancer Information Service (CIS) support mailing intervention on the likelihood that women with an abnormal Pap test will keep their medical follow-up appointments and be satisfied with how they talk to their provider.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 intervention arms.

• Arm I (Usual-care mailing intervention): Patients receive a generic letter reminding them of their follow-up colposcopy appointment.
• Arm II (Cancer Information Service [CIS] support mailing intervention): Patients receive a targeted letter reminding them of their follow-up colposcopy appointment, asking them or someone they designate to call the CIS, and suggesting some questions to ask the CIS about colposcopies and Pap tests.

At their follow-up appointments, all patients undergo an exit interview to compare patient satisfaction between the 2 interventions. Patients in arm II also answer questions about their CIS experience, and if the intervention made their follow-up visit less difficult.

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Received an abnormal Pap test result
• Scheduled for a colposcopy within 6 months of their Pap test at either the Erie Family Health Center or the Prentice Ambulatory Clinic

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Female
• Able to communicate in either English or Spanish
• Clinic staff will review patient charts to determine eligibility

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Not specified

Exclusion criteria

• <18 years
• unable to communicate in English or Spanish
• no address to which a letter can be mailed