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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04343950

SMS Messaging as a Tool to Improve Cancer Screening Programs

The aim of this project is to assess the impact on health and economics of the implementation of text messaging (SMS) in cancer screening programs. Three interventions with SMS will be evaluated through community trials. In the colorectal cancer screening program the following interventions will be tested: a) Participation reminder: six weeks after sending the invitation letter of the colorectal cancer program if there has not been a response, a reminder SMS will be sent in front of the usual method by letter; b) Reminder to return the fecal occult blood test: SMS reminder of test delivery versus no intervention. This reminder will be sent to the individuals who have gone to the pharmacy to pick up a fecal occult blood test and they have not returned it after 14 days. The impact on participation will be analyzed and, if applicable, the proportion of advanced neoplasms will be calculated by increase in participation. In the breast cancer screening program, the invitation by SMS versus the usual invitation by letter will be studied in women who had participated in the previous screening round. The impact on participation will be analyzed. A cost-effectiveness analysis of the three interventions will be carried out. The incremental cost ratio of the interventions between cost variation and effectiveness variation will be calculated.

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Key information

Conditions

Mass Screening Breast Cancer Breast Diseases Breast Neoplasms Colonic Diseases Colorectal Cancer Colorectal Neoplasms Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Intestinal Diseases Intestinal Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Rectal Diseases Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

50 year–69 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Institut Català d'Oncologia

L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908, Spain

About this study

Main Hypothesis:

The implementation of SMS in population-based cancer screening programs will improve participation, especially in colorectal cancer screening, will allow a better resource management and reduce costs in both programs.

Specific Hypothesis:

Sending the reminder SMS will have an impact on participation greater than that obtained with the standard reminder (letter) in the colorectal cancer screening program.

The effect of the colorectal cancer screening reminder SMS will be greater among the individuals who have been invited for the first time and not previous participants.

Participation after receiving the invitation by SMS in breast cancer screening will be equal to or better than the letter invitation.

The alternative that includes sending SMS will be cost-effective in relation to the current alternative that you use postal shipping.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Eligible individuals for colorectal cancer screening (intervention 1 and 2)
  • Eligible women for breast cancer screening (intervention 3)
  • Registered at the HealthCare Database (RCA)

Exclusion criteria

  • Individuals without a mobile phone number registered at the RCA
  • Opt out from breast cancer screening and/or colorectal cancer screening

Treatment and study plan

SMS reminders to enhance colorectal cancer screening

Behavioral

Individual randomization will be used. Individuals assigned to the experimental arm with a wrong phone number will get a reminder letter (protocol analysis).

Other names: Intervention 1

SMS reminders to return the fecal immunochemical test at the pharmacy in CRC screening:

Behavioral

Individual randomization will be used. Individuals with a wrong phone number assigned to the experimental arm will not get any reminder (protocol analysis).

Other names: Intervention 2

Invitation by SMS to previous participants in breast cancer screening:

Behavioral

Individual randomization. Women assigned to the experimental arm and with a wrong phone number will get an invitation letter (protocol analysis).

Other names: Intervention 3

Primary outcomes

  1. Intervention 1: Participation in colorectal cancer screening program

    Time frame: 18 weeks

    Participation (no/yes) will be gathered prospectively 18 weeks after sending the screening invitation letter (week 0).

  2. Intervention 2: Participation in colorectal cancer screening program among individuals who pick the test at the pharmacy

    Time frame: 18 weeks

    Participation (no/yes) among those individuals who pick the screening test for colorectal cancer at the pharmacy 18 weeks after sending the screening invitation letter (week 0).

  3. Intervention 3: Participation in breast cancer screening program

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Participation (no/yes) will be gathered prospectively 8 weeks after sending the screening invitation letter (week 0).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incremental cost ratio

    Time frame: 18 weeks

    A cost-effectiveness analysis of the three interventions will be carried out. The incremental cost ratio of the interventions between cost variation and effectiveness variation will be calculated.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Institut Català d'Oncologia

Other

Collaborators

  • University Rovira i Virgili
  • University of Barcelona
  • University of Dundee

Registry information

Official study title

Implementation of Text Messaging (SMS) as an Improvement Tool in Population-based Cancer Screening Programs

Acronym: M-TICS

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Apr 14, 2020
Registry last updated
Sep 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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