Colon Cancer ScreeningPROMPT-CRCNCT06710509
Patient Reminders Optimizing Mail-in Prevention Testing for Colorectal Cancer
A study testing Three Messaging Nudges in people with Colon Cancer Screening, run by Laura Feemster at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Screening is an important tool for early colorectal cancer detection, and the most recent evidence suggests that early detection significantly improves survival rates. Current medical guidelines recommend that all people aged 45 to 75 be screened regularly. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 45 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Colon Cancer Screening
- What is being tested?
- Three Messaging Nudges
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 2,106 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 5 Dec 2024to 26 Feb 2025
- 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 45 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 45-75
- Have either a mobile phone number or an email address on file with the health system
- Included in and non-compliant on the Ascension Colon Cancer Screening Clinical Priority Goal measure.
- Have consented to receive electronic communications from the health system
- Ascension primary care provider placed an order for stool testing between 60 and 180 days prior to the intervention.
- No record of Cologuard stool testing lab results returned within 60 days of the order being placed.
Who cannot join
- Patients whose primary care providers are exempted from the campaign by the health system
- Patients with a record of having been screened for colorectal cancer through some other method during the time since the initial order for Cologuard stool testing was placed.
- Have received a nudge campaign from the Clinical Transformation team in the past 90 days
- Patients who have previously opted out of receiving electronic communications from the health system in our message delivery platform (Salesforce)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Screening is an important tool for early colorectal cancer detection, and the most recent evidence suggests that early detection significantly improves survival rates. Current medical guidelines recommend that all people aged 45 to 75 be screened regularly. However, actual rates of screening in the United States are much lower than this.
Colonoscopy is the gold standard in colon cancer screening, serving as both screening and prevention. However there are many barriers to colonoscopy uptake, including lack of awareness, patient reticence, scheduling complexity, and market variation in access. Stool testing is a valuable alternative to colonoscopy for low-risk patients. Exact Sciences is the company that makes Cologuard, which is the current best-in-class stool testing for colon cancer screening.
Read more
Despite being a convenient at-home screening option, patient engagement with screening via stool testing has room for improvement. Over 40% of Ascension patients who have a stool testing order placed for them never return the screening kit in the mail.
A large body of research demonstrates that interventions informed by behavioral science can support patients in engaging in a variety of preventative health behaviors. Personalized nudges have proven to be among the most effective types of interventions, along with interventions aimed at helping patients overcome barriers to screening. We aim to test whether behavioral nudges can increase stool testing kit return rates.
Read the detailed description
Screening is an important tool for early colorectal cancer detection, and the most recent evidence suggests that early detection significantly improves survival rates. Current medical guidelines recommend that all people aged 45 to 75 be screened regularly. However, actual rates of screening in the United States are much lower than this, particularly among younger patient cohorts. Screening rates are still lower for patients who are "socially vulnerable" - a measure of the degree to which social and demographic factors make them vulnerable to health disparities.
Colonoscopy is the gold standard in colon cancer screening, serving as both screening and prevention. However there are many barriers to colonoscopy uptake, including lack of awareness, patient reticence, scheduling complexity, and market variation in access. Stool testing is a valuable alternative to colonoscopy for low-risk patients. Exact Sciences is the company that makes Cologuard, which is the current best-in-class stool testing for colon cancer screening.
Despite being a convenient at-home screening option, patient engagement with screening via stool testing has room for improvement. Over 40% of Ascension patients who have a stool testing order placed for them never return the screening kit in the mail.
A large body of research demonstrates that interventions informed by behavioral science can support patients in engaging in a variety of preventative health behaviors. Personalized nudges have proven to be among the most effective types of interventions, along with interventions aimed at helping patients overcome barriers to screening.4 We aim to test whether behavioral nudges can increase stool testing kit return rates.
- Conditions
- Colon Cancer Screening
- Being tested
- Three Messaging Nudges
- Keywords
- colon cancer screening
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Three Messaging NudgesBehavioural
Patients in the Experimental Condition will receive a set of up to three email and text messages over the course of five days, while also receiving usual care which could include messaging from their practice or the electronic health record.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | Group not receiving the messages |
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Group receiving the messages Receives: Behavioral: Three Messaging Nudges |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percentage kit return at 4 weeks
Percentage of patients who have Cologuard stool testing lab results returned 4 weeks after receiving the intervention
Measured: 4 weeks from date first message was sent
Secondary outcomes (2)
Percentage kit return at 8 weeks
Percentage of patients who have Cologuard stool testing lab results returned 8 weeks after receiving the intervention
Measured: 8 weeks from date first message was sent
Percentage kit return at 12 weeks
Percentage of patients who have Cologuard stool testing lab results returned 12 weeks after receiving the intervention
Measured: 12 weeks from date first message was sent
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Nov 2024
- Study start5 Dec 2024
- Primary completion2 Jan 2025
- Study completion26 Feb 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Colon Cancer ScreeningStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 2,106 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Laura Feemster
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Laura Feemster, Ascension Health
- Investigators
- Laura Feemster, MD MS, Principal investigator, Ascension Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06710509
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RAS20240016
- Acronym
- PROMPT-CRC
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Nov 2024
- Last updated
- 8 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Has patient information that we are not approved to share
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Patient Reminders Optimizing Mail-in Prevention Testing for Colorectal Cancer
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06710509
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PROMPT-CRC / RAS20240016
- Conditions
- Colon Cancer Screening
- Keywords
- colon cancer screening
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 2,106 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Laura FeemsterIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 5 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 2 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 26 Feb 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 29 Nov 2024 (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.
Screening is an important tool for early colorectal cancer detection, and the most recent evidence suggests that early detection significantly improves survival rates. Current medical guidelines recommend that all people aged 45 to 75 be screened regularly. However, actual rates of screening in the United States are much lower than this.
Colonoscopy is the gold standard in colon cancer screening, serving as both screening and prevention. However there are many barriers to colonoscopy uptake, including lack of awareness, patient reticence, scheduling complexity, and market variation in access. Stool testing is a valuable alternative to colonoscopy for low-risk patients. Exact Sciences is the company that makes Cologuard, which is the current best-in-class stool testing for colon cancer screening.
Despite being a convenient at-home screening option, patient engagement with screening via stool testing has room for improvement. Over 40% of Ascension patients who have a stool testing order placed for them never return the screening kit in the mail.
A large body of research demonstrates that interventions informed by behavioral science can support patients in engaging in a variety of preventative health behaviors. Personalized nudges have proven to be among the most effective types of interventions, along with interventions aimed at helping patients overcome barriers to screening. We aim to test whether behavioral nudges can increase stool testing kit return rates.
Detailed description
Screening is an important tool for early colorectal cancer detection, and the most recent evidence suggests that early detection significantly improves survival rates. Current medical guidelines recommend that all people aged 45 to 75 be screened regularly. However, actual rates of screening in the United States are much lower than this, particularly among younger patient cohorts. Screening rates are still lower for patients who are "socially vulnerable" - a measure of the degree to which social and demographic factors make them vulnerable to health disparities.
Colonoscopy is the gold standard in colon cancer screening, serving as both screening and prevention. However there are many barriers to colonoscopy uptake, including lack of awareness, patient reticence, scheduling complexity, and market variation in access. Stool testing is a valuable alternative to colonoscopy for low-risk patients. Exact Sciences is the company that makes Cologuard, which is the current best-in-class stool testing for colon cancer screening.
Despite being a convenient at-home screening option, patient engagement with screening via stool testing has room for improvement. Over 40% of Ascension patients who have a stool testing order placed for them never return the screening kit in the mail.
A large body of research demonstrates that interventions informed by behavioral science can support patients in engaging in a variety of preventative health behaviors. Personalized nudges have proven to be among the most effective types of interventions, along with interventions aimed at helping patients overcome barriers to screening.4 We aim to test whether behavioral nudges can increase stool testing kit return rates.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | –Group not receiving the messages |
| Experimental Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Three Messaging NudgesGroup receiving the messages |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 45 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age 45-75
- Have either a mobile phone number or an email address on file with the health system
- Included in and non-compliant on the Ascension Colon Cancer Screening Clinical Priority Goal measure.
- Have consented to receive electronic communications from the health system
- Ascension primary care provider placed an order for stool testing between 60 and 180 days prior to the intervention.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients whose primary care providers are exempted from the campaign by the health system
- Patients with a record of having been screened for colorectal cancer through some other method during the time since the initial order for Cologuard stool testing was placed.
- Have received a nudge campaign from the Clinical Transformation team in the past 90 days
- Patients who have previously opted out of receiving electronic communications from the health system in our message delivery platform (Salesforce)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Three Messaging NudgesPatients in the Experimental Condition will receive a set of up to three email and text messages over the course of five days, while also receiving usual care which could include messaging from their practice or the electronic health record. | Behavioural | Experimental Group |
Primary outcome
Percentage kit return at 4 weeks
Time frame: 4 weeks from date first message was sent
Percentage of patients who have Cologuard stool testing lab results returned 4 weeks after receiving the intervention
2 secondary outcomes
Percentage kit return at 8 weeks
Time frame: 8 weeks from date first message was sent
Percentage kit return at 12 weeks
Time frame: 12 weeks from date first message was sent
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 8 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Has patient information that we are not approved to share
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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.
Laura Feemster, MD MS principal investigator
Ascension Health
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Three Messaging Nudges in people with Colon Cancer Screening, run by Laura Feemster at 1 site in United States.
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 6 inclusion and 4 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 8 Jun 2026. 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 United States. 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?
Percentage kit return at 4 weeks (time frame: 4 weeks from date first message was sent). 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 8 Jun 2026.