Colorectal CancerNCT03209765
WhatsApp Reminder on FIT Compliance
A study testing WhatsApp reminder in people with Colorectal Cancer and Screening Compliance, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
It is estimated that there are about 1.4 million patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide, with a rising trend in CRC incidence in many Asian Pacific countries. In Hong Kong, colorectal cancer ranks first in cancer incidence and second in cancer mortality based on data from 2014. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 to 75 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Colorectal Cancer, Screening Compliance, Fecal Immunochemical Test
- What is being tested?
- WhatsApp reminder
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 500 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 16 Jun 2017to 31 Dec 2019
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 50 to 75 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Subjects who joined the bowel cancer screening programme in the CUHK JC Bowel Cancer Education Centre and are expected to follow up for annual FIT.
Who cannot join
- Lack of access to WhatsApp Messenger
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of WhatsApp Reminder on Compliance of Colorectal Cancer Screening: a Randomized Controlled Study
It is estimated that there are about 1.4 million patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide, with a rising trend in CRC incidence in many Asian Pacific countries. In Hong Kong, colorectal cancer ranks first in cancer incidence and second in cancer mortality based on data from 2014.
Recent guidelines from USA, Europe and Asia Pacific region recommend CRC screening for average-risk asymptomatic individuals starting at age 50. Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), is one of the recommendation as first-line modality for CRC screening. Since yearly testing is recommended to maintain programmatic effectiveness longitudinal adherence is a critical component of FOBT-based screening programs. Our previous study conducted in Hong Kong showed that the rate of compliance with CRC screening was declining since the first year of enrolment8.
Read more
In recent years, social media (SM) has become an increasingly popular source of health information. By providing an easily accessible and interactive channel of communication between reviewers and information providers, it has potential values for affecting public health. However, the effects of SM on the compliance of CRC screening by FIT has not yet been studied.
WhatsApp Messenger, is the most popular social media messaging app worldwide. This randomized controlled study will investigate the effect of WhatsApp vs no reminder on the compliance of CRC screening by FIT.
Read the detailed description
It is estimated that there are about 1.4 million patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide, with a rising trend in CRC incidence in many Asian Pacific countries. In Hong Kong, colorectal cancer ranks first in cancer incidence and second in cancer mortality based on data from 2014.
Recent guidelines from USA, Europe and Asia Pacific region recommend CRC screening for average-risk asymptomatic individuals starting at age 50. Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), is one of the recommendation as first-line modality for CRC screening. Since yearly testing is recommended to maintain programmatic effectiveness longitudinal adherence is a critical component of FOBT-based screening programs. Our previous study conducted in Hong Kong showed that the rate of compliance with CRC screening was declining since the first year of enrolment8.
In recent years, social media (SM) has become an increasingly popular source of health information. By providing an easily accessible and interactive channel of communication between reviewers and information providers, it has potential values for affecting public health. However, the effects of SM on the compliance of CRC screening by FIT has not yet been studied.
WhatsApp Messenger, is the most popular social media messaging app worldwide. This randomized controlled study will investigate the effect of WhatsApp vs no reminder on the compliance of CRC screening by FIT.
All subjects will be recruited from the existing cohort of screening participants who joined the bowel cancer screening programme in the CUHK JC Bowel Cancer Education Centre in 2016 with FOBT negative in the first round of screening, and who are expected to follow-up and return to the centre in 2017 for their second round of FOBT screening.
Each study subjects will be offered either an interactive WhatsApp reminder to return to the centre for taking faecal tubes for screening; or usual care, where no additional intervention will be offered. A simple random sampling process will be administered using computer-generated numbers so that each participant will have a 50% probability for assignment into each group. All potential participants identified who are eligible for the study will be randomized by a computer randomizer, which will give a number indicating the group assigned.
The outcome of interest included the proportion of subjects who return to the centre and retrieve faecal tubes for screening 30 days within the scheduled time for the second year of the screening test.
To investigate the long-term effect of WhatsApp reminder on FIT compliance, all subjects in this study (except those died or had positive FIT result) will be called in the first quarter of 2019 and offered FIT again in a cross-over design in 2019, i.e. 1) patients initially randomized to WhatsApp reminder group in 2017 will receive no reminder in 2019; and 2) those randomized to no reminder group in 2017 will receive WhatsApp reminder in 2019.. The FIT pickup and return rate and reason of default will be recorded again.
- Being tested
- WhatsApp reminder
- Medical subject headings
- Colorectal Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
WhatsApp reminderOther
An interactive WhatsApp reminder to return to the centre for taking faecal tubes for screening
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp reminder | Active comparator | An interactive WhatsApp reminder to return to the centre for taking faecal tubes for screening Receives: Other: WhatsApp reminder |
| No reminder | No intervention | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Compliance rate
Compliance rate of FIT in the year of receiving the interventions/control
Measured: 1 year
Secondary outcomes (1)
Compliance rate of second round
Compliance rate of FIT in the year of second round of follow up after crossing over
Measured: 3 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Jul 2017
- Study start16 Jun 2017
- Primary completion31 Dec 2019
- Study completion31 Dec 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Colorectal CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 500 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Thomas Yuen Tung Lam, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Thomas Yuen Tung Lam, MSc, Principal investigator, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03209765
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- WhatsApp Compliance Study
- Status last verified
- Jun 2021
- First submitted
- 4 Jul 2017
- Last updated
- 14 Jun 2021
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Jun 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of WhatsApp Reminder on Compliance of Colorectal Cancer Screening: a Randomized Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03209765
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- WhatsApp Compliance Study
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 500 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 Jun 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Jul 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
It is estimated that there are about 1.4 million patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide, with a rising trend in CRC incidence in many Asian Pacific countries. In Hong Kong, colorectal cancer ranks first in cancer incidence and second in cancer mortality based on data from 2014.
Recent guidelines from USA, Europe and Asia Pacific region recommend CRC screening for average-risk asymptomatic individuals starting at age 50. Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), is one of the recommendation as first-line modality for CRC screening. Since yearly testing is recommended to maintain programmatic effectiveness longitudinal adherence is a critical component of FOBT-based screening programs. Our previous study conducted in Hong Kong showed that the rate of compliance with CRC screening was declining since the first year of enrolment8.
In recent years, social media (SM) has become an increasingly popular source of health information. By providing an easily accessible and interactive channel of communication between reviewers and information providers, it has potential values for affecting public health. However, the effects of SM on the compliance of CRC screening by FIT has not yet been studied.
WhatsApp Messenger, is the most popular social media messaging app worldwide. This randomized controlled study will investigate the effect of WhatsApp vs no reminder on the compliance of CRC screening by FIT.
Detailed description
It is estimated that there are about 1.4 million patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide, with a rising trend in CRC incidence in many Asian Pacific countries. In Hong Kong, colorectal cancer ranks first in cancer incidence and second in cancer mortality based on data from 2014.
Recent guidelines from USA, Europe and Asia Pacific region recommend CRC screening for average-risk asymptomatic individuals starting at age 50. Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), is one of the recommendation as first-line modality for CRC screening. Since yearly testing is recommended to maintain programmatic effectiveness longitudinal adherence is a critical component of FOBT-based screening programs. Our previous study conducted in Hong Kong showed that the rate of compliance with CRC screening was declining since the first year of enrolment8.
In recent years, social media (SM) has become an increasingly popular source of health information. By providing an easily accessible and interactive channel of communication between reviewers and information providers, it has potential values for affecting public health. However, the effects of SM on the compliance of CRC screening by FIT has not yet been studied.
WhatsApp Messenger, is the most popular social media messaging app worldwide. This randomized controlled study will investigate the effect of WhatsApp vs no reminder on the compliance of CRC screening by FIT.
All subjects will be recruited from the existing cohort of screening participants who joined the bowel cancer screening programme in the CUHK JC Bowel Cancer Education Centre in 2016 with FOBT negative in the first round of screening, and who are expected to follow-up and return to the centre in 2017 for their second round of FOBT screening.
Each study subjects will be offered either an interactive WhatsApp reminder to return to the centre for taking faecal tubes for screening; or usual care, where no additional intervention will be offered. A simple random sampling process will be administered using computer-generated numbers so that each participant will have a 50% probability for assignment into each group. All potential participants identified who are eligible for the study will be randomized by a computer randomizer, which will give a number indicating the group assigned.
The outcome of interest included the proportion of subjects who return to the centre and retrieve faecal tubes for screening 30 days within the scheduled time for the second year of the screening test.
To investigate the long-term effect of WhatsApp reminder on FIT compliance, all subjects in this study (except those died or had positive FIT result) will be called in the first quarter of 2019 and offered FIT again in a cross-over design in 2019, i.e. 1) patients initially randomized to WhatsApp reminder group in 2017 will receive no reminder in 2019; and 2) those randomized to no reminder group in 2017 will receive WhatsApp reminder in 2019.. The FIT pickup and return rate and reason of default will be recorded again.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp reminder | Active comparator | Other: WhatsApp reminderAn interactive WhatsApp reminder to return to the centre for taking faecal tubes for screening |
| No reminder | No intervention | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Subjects who joined the bowel cancer screening programme in the CUHK JC Bowel Cancer Education Centre and are expected to follow up for annual FIT.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Lack of access to WhatsApp Messenger
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp reminderAn interactive WhatsApp reminder to return to the centre for taking faecal tubes for screening | Other | WhatsApp reminder |
Primary outcome
Compliance rate
Time frame: 1 year
Compliance rate of FIT in the year of receiving the interventions/control
1 secondary outcome
Compliance rate of second round
Time frame: 3 years
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Jun 2021.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Thomas Yuen Tung Lam, MSc principal investigator
Chinese University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing WhatsApp reminder in people with Colorectal Cancer and Screening Compliance, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Jun 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Compliance rate (time frame: 1 year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Jun 2021.