Regular and timely screenings for colorectal cancer (CRC) can improve survival through early cancer detection. The current prospective intervention study assessed the effectiveness of a CRC screening outreach campaign via a multi-media campaign featuring articles in a multi-topic benefits newsletter that was both printed/mailed to homes and emailed to Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) employees and their dependents in the United States. Individuals were included if they were between 45 and 64 years old. The mailed newsletter was sent to 5631 active employees, 868 under 65 retirees, and 4046 retirees with Medicare. The open rate was the highest for the third email (n = 3018; 53.3%). The click-through rate was also the highest for the third email (n = 203;6.7%). Among those who opened at least one of the emails or received a mailed newsletter, 119 members completed the assessment (conversion rate = 3.9%). Among this population, the mt-sDNA completion rate was 64.5% (69 orders completed out of 107 ordered mt-sDNA kits). All 6 patients with a positive mt-sDNA result underwent a follow-up colonoscopy (FU-CY) with the mean (±SD) days to FU-CY among those with positive mt-sDNA test results was 49 (±27) days (median = 42 days). Using emails in conjunction with other targeted interventions to outreach and educate members regarding CRC screening may be an effective strategy to enhance mt-sDNA completion rates.
Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Communication; Email campaign; Follow-up colonoscopy; Outreach; Screening.
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.