Improving Fecal Occult Blood Test Completion Rates Among Veterans

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Colorectal Cancer
• Interventions: Behavioral: Stage 1; Behavioral: Stage 2

• Registration Number: NCT01516489
• Lead Sponsor: Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center

Brief Summary

This is a 4-arm cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether patient financial incentives directly integrated into primary care can improve fecal occult blood test (FOBT) completion rates. We will recruit primary care patients at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center (PVAMC) in 2 stages. In stage 1, we hypothesize that, compared to usual care, $5, $10, $20 incentives will each lead to a statistically significant increase in the rate of FOBT completion. We also hypothesize that there will be a direct dose-response relationship between the incentive amount and rates of FOBT completion. In stage 2, we hypothesize that a lottery-based incentive and a raffle-based incentive will both lead to a statistically significant increase in the rate of FOBT completion compared to a fixed payment incentive with an equivalent dollar per patient value.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2012-01-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-01-19
• Study First Posted: 2012-01-25
• Study Start: 2012-02
• Primary Completion: 2013-10
• Study Completion: 2015-06
• Status Verified: 2015-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-10-23
• Last Update Posted: 2015-10-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 1549

Inclusion Criteria

• PVAMC outpatients who are prescribed an FOBT kit in Module B or C during the study period.

Exclusion Criteria

• None. All PVAMC outpatients who are prescribed an FOBT kit in Module B or C during the study period will be eligible.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
$5 Incentive	Stage 1	In the FOBT kit, individuals will receive a card that states that if they complete and return their FOBT kit within 30 days, they will be mailed a voucher that can be exchanged for $5 at PVAMC.
$50 Lottery-Based Incentive	Stage 2	In the FOBT kit, individuals will receive a card that states that if they complete and return their FOBT kit within 30 days, they will have a 1 in 10 chance of being mailed a voucher that can be exchanged for $50 at PVAMC.
$20 Incentive	Stage 1	In the FOBT kit, individuals will receive a card that states that if they complete and return their FOBT kit within 30 days, they will be mailed a voucher that can be exchanged for $20 at PVAMC.
$5 Voucher-Based Incentive	Stage 2	In the FOBT kit, individuals will receive a card that states that if they complete and return their FOBT kit within 30 days, they will be mailed a voucher that can be exchanged for $5 at PVAMC.
$10 Incentive	Stage 1	In the FOBT kit, individuals will receive a card that states that if they complete and return their FOBT kit within 30 days, they will be mailed a voucher that can be exchanged for $10 at PVAMC.
$500 Raffle-Based Incentive	Stage 2	In the FOBT kit, individuals will receive a card that states that if they complete and return their FOBT kit within 30 days, they will be entered into a raffle in which 1 randomly chosen patient (out of about 100 patients) will be mailed a check in the amount of $500.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
FOBT completion and return	30 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
FOBT completion rate among previously non-adherent patients and FOBT kit return time by arm	30 days	There are 2 secondary outcomes. First, we will compare time to FOBT kit return by arm. Second, we will compare 30 day FOBT completion rates among previously non-adherent patients (i.e., individuals who had failed to complete a prescribed FOBT kit in the year prior to the start of the study) by arm.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States