Colo-rectal Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
Colo-rectal cancer, Prevention, eHealth, Gamification
Brief summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 903,000 deaths annually. While population-based screening programmes have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing early detection and reducing mortality, participation rates remain suboptimal. Adherence is influenced by cognitive, psychological, and socioeconomic barriers. This study aimed to assess the impact of a digital decision aid (DA), incorporating personalisation and gamification elements, on informed decision-making and adherence to CRC screening. DA-CRC is a two-arm randomised controlled pilot trial. Individuals born in 1973-1974 living in the area served by the local health authority of Brescia (Northern Italy) who were invited for the first time to participate in the CRC screening programme, were eligible. An invitation letter, including instructions to download the PREVenGO app, was mailed to potential participants. Upon download, participants were randomised to either the intervention or control arm. The intervention app included questionnaires on family history, knowledge of primary and secondary prevention, and locus of control (LoC), as well as gamification and reward features. The control app provided static educational content only. Notifications prompted users to complete follow-up assessments at 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2), receive prevention information, and attend screening.
Interventions
OTHERGamified Mobile App
The intervention app included questionnaires on family history, knowledge of primary and secondary prevention, and locus of control (LoC), as well as gamification and reward features.
Sponsors
Agenzia di Tutela della Salute (ATS) di Brescia
University of Pavia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Randomized Clinical Trial
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to 51 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Stable residence within one of the municipalities served by Brescia LHA; * Ownership of a smartphone (Android or iOS); * Proficiency in the Italian language; * Provision of informed consent within the PREVenGO app.
Exclusion criteria
* Failure to provide informed consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Awareness | From enrollment to 6 months | Informed choice, using the three-dimensional model by Marteau, including: Knowledge (minimum score 7/13); Attitude (score \>24); Behavioural intention (actual participation). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Uptake of CRC screening | From enrollment to 31st December 2024 | ATS Brescia provided pseudonymised data on actual FOBT participation. |
| Knowledge of primary prevention and healthy behaviours, | From enrollment to 6 months | Assessment through 13 multiple-choice questions. Participants were classified based on correct responses as: Low knowledge (0-5 correct answers); Moderate knowledge (6-8); High knowledge (9-13); |
| Decisional conflict, user satisfaction, and app acceptability | From enrollment to 6 months | Evaluation through items related to the decision-making process and perceived usefulness of the decision aid |
Countries
Italy
Outcome results
None listed