Message Framing and Colorectal Cancer Screening

1. Purpose and objective: The investigators propose an online intervention to increase colorectal cancer screening among men and women ages 50 to 75 who have never been screened for this disease. The intervention consists of giving study participants information about their estimated risk of getting colorectal cancer followed by either a message emphasizing the benefits of getting screened (i.e., gain frame messages) or the disadvantages of not getting screened (loss frame messages). Before conducting the online intervention, the investigators will conduct a pilot study to validate the gain and loss frame messages.
2. Study activities and population group: The pilot study activities involve recruiting 20 participants, screening for eligibility and conducting informed consent over the phone, randomizing them to receive either gain or loss frame messages, and instructing them to complete a survey with questions covering comprehension and framing manipulation checks. Data entry and survey activities will all be conducted through a secure REDCap project. Main study activities involve a pilot conducted by GfK involving 40 participants, 20 randomized to gain and 20 to the loss conditions, completing an online baseline survey and a post-intervention online survey. In addition, participants are to review: 1) educational materials on colorectal cancer and colorectal cancer screening, 2) review and respond to questions about their estimated risk of getting colorectal cancer, and 3) review and respond to questions about gain- or loss-framed messages. After the pilot, the full study will begin. Study activities will be the same as in the pilot, with the addition of a six month post-intervention online survey.
3. Data analyses and risk/safety issues: Analyses will include descriptive statistics and use of linear and logistic regression analyses. Every effort will be made to ensure the confidentiality of the information collected. During the pilot study, the only PHI recorded is an email address for the purposes of conducting the online surveys, a physical address so that the study team can send a copy of the consent form, and information for payment. Demographic information and email address will be recorded during phone screening and entered into a secure REDCap database after the participant has given informed consent, and an internal record ID will be generated for the participant in REDCap that will be used to identify them throughout the study. Physical address and payment information will be recorded after informed consent. All paper data will be destroyed as soon as possible.

In the main study run by GfK, all data received by the key personnel from Gfk will be de-identified per GfK policy. There are no foreseeable physical risks; although some participants in the main study may be surprised by their risk estimate and react negatively (e.g., experience some anxiety) if the estimate is very high.