UC San Diego Library

Background:

Mailed outreach promoting colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with a stool blood test kit may increase participation, but magnitude and consistency of benefit of this intervention strategy is uncertain.

Aim:

Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing mailed outreach offering stool tests to usual care, clinic-based screening offers on CRC screening uptake in the United States.

Methods:

We performed a systematic literature search of 5 databases for RCTs of mailed outreach January 1980 through June 2017. Primary outcome was screening completion, summarized using random-effects meta-analysis as pooled differences in proportion completing screening and relative risk of achieving screening compared to control. Subgroup analyses by test type offered--fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)--, presence of telephone reminders, and presence of predominant underserved/minority population within study were performed. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE framework.

Results:

7 RCTs which enrolled 12,501 subjects were included (n=5,703 assigned mailed outreach and n=6,798 usual care). Mailed outreach resulted in a 28% absolute (95%CI: 25–30%; I2=47%), and a 2.8-fold relative (RR 2.65, 95%CI: 2.03–3.45; I2=92%) increase in screening completion compared to usual care, with a number needed to invite of 3.6. Similar outcomes were observed across subgroups. Overall body of evidence was moderate quality.

Conclusions:

Mailed outreach offering a gFOBT or FIT is associated with a large and consistent increase in CRC screening completion and should be considered for more widespread implementation for improving screening rates nationwide.

DOI: 10.1007/s10620-019-05587-6