Colorectal cancer screening completion by patients due or overdue for screening after reminders: a retrospective study

Background: Patient and clinician reminders were implemented as part of an adherence improvement project at University of Florida (UF) Internal Medicine Clinics. We sought to assess colorectal cancer (CRC) screening completion rates among patients not up-to-date with screening following distribution of reminders and to identify characteristics correlated with screening outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed for patients not up-to-date with CRC screening for whom at least one reminder (patient and/or clinician) was issued in June 2018. The primary endpoint, the completion of a CRC screening test, is characterized as the ratio of completed screening tests to the number of patients not up-to-date with screening. All analyses were performed using R 4.0 software.

Results: Of the 926 patients included, 403 (44%; 95% CI, 0.40-0.47) completed a CRC screening test within 24 months following a reminder. Family history of CRC (relative risk (RR) 1.33; P = 0.007), flu immunization within two years of the reminder (RR 1.23; P = 0.019), and receiving a patient reminder either alone (RR 1.62; P < 0.001) or in combination with a clinician reminder (RR 1.55; P = 0.006) were positively associated with CRC screening completion. Reporting being divorced, separated, or widowed was negatively associated with screening completion (RR 0.70; P = 0.004).

Conclusion: Reminders, in particular patient reminders, seem to be an effective method to enhance screening among patients not up-to-date with CRC screening. This study suggests that reminder efforts should be focused at the level of the patients and provides insight on target populations for practical interventions to further increase CRC screening adherence.