Evaluation of the Cancer Tracking System (CATSystem) (CATSystem)

March 12, 2026 updated by: University of Kansas Medical Center

Implementing and Evaluating the Cancer Tracking System (CATSystem): A Systems Level Intervention to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening, Treatment Referral and Follow up in Kenya

Cervical cancer contributes to significant preventable mortality in Kenya where less than 20% of women are screened. The Cancer Tracking System (CATSystem) is a web-based, algorithm generated tool to promote guideline adherent cervical cancer screening and retention through treatment. The goal of this project is to rigorously evaluate the efficacy, implementation, and cost-effectiveness of the CATSystem to improve rates of screening, treatment, referral, and follow-up care in a matched, cluster randomized controlled trial in 10 Kenyan government hospitals (5 intervention, 5 standard of care).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

To help address system level barriers to cervical cancer screening, treatment, and follow-up in Kenya, investigators worked with end-users (providers and patients) to develop the Cancer Tracking System (CATSystem), a web-based, algorithm generated tool to promote guideline adherent cervical cancer screening and retention through treatment. The goal of this project is to rigorously evaluate the efficacy, implementation, and cost-effectiveness of the CATSystem to improve rates of screening, treatment, referral, and follow-up care in a matched, cluster randomized controlled trial in 10 Kenyan government hospitals (5 intervention, 5 standard of care). Specific aims (SA) of the study are to (1) Implement and evaluate the efficacy of CATSystem to improve guideline adherent cervical cancer screening, treatment, referral and follow up, (2) Assess feasibility and acceptability of implementation of CATSystem in government run facilities using a human centered design approach, and (3) Calculate the costs and cost-effectiveness of the CATSystem to increase quality adjusted life years gained. Cervical cancer deaths can be prevented with early detection and treatment. This study will evaluate the public health impact of the CATSystem in improving cervical cancer screening, treatment, referral, follow-up, and the feasibility of scale up to other low resource settings.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
6600

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Catherine Wexler, MPH
  • Phone Number: 913-945-7077
  • Email: cwexler@kumc.edu

Study Locations

  • Kenya
      • Akala, Kenya
        • Akala Health Center
      • Bondo, Kenya
        • Bondo Referral Hospital
      • Busia, Kenya
        • Busia County Referral Hospital
      • Busia, Kenya
        • Alupe Sub-County Hospital
      • Busia, Kenya
        • Khunyangu Sub-County Hospital
      • Busia, Kenya
        • Matayos Health Center
      • Busia, Kenya
        • Port Victoria Sub-County Hospital
      • Siaya, Kenya
        • Nambale Sub-County Hospital
      • Siaya, Kenya
        • Yala Sub-County Hospital
      • Ukwala, Kenya
        • Ukwala Sub-County Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • women above 16 years of age
  • access to a cell phone,
  • presenting for cervical cancer screening at a study hospital.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • greater than 20 weeks gestation,
  • incarcerated patients,
  • women who study staff feel are unable to provide written informed consent due to impaired capacity.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: CATSystem Intervention
Participants enrolled at intervention sites will receive CATSytem-supported cervical cancer screening and treatment services. Interventions received will include: text messages to patients and algorithm-driven alerts to providers when guideline-adherent cervical cancer screening and treatment services are required including: initial and follow up cervical cancer screening, on site treatment, and referral tracking.
Other: Cancer Tracking System (CATSystem)
The CATSystem provider dashboard highlights patients with overdue services or those in need of outreach and sends automated, customized texts to support screening and treatment follow-up per national guidelines. Points of intervention and alerts include: cervical cancer screening and treatment counseling, initial and follow up cervical cancer screening per national guidelines, treatment for precancer and cancer, referral tracking and follow up. In addition, the CATSystem can securely store images of the cervix taken with colposcopes to allow for remote expert consultation if needed to correctly diagnose a patient or can be reviewed at clinical team meetings for input. Primary goals of the CATSystem are to increase rates of guideline-adherent cervical cancer screening/ rescreening and improve guideline-adherent treatment, referral, and follow-up rates of women with positive screens.
No Intervention: Standard of care
Participants enrolled at control sites will receive standard of care PMTCT services, with no CATSystem tracking or follow up

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Guideline adherent treatment for a positive screen
Time Frame: 0-12 months [from screening result to treatment completion]
Provide guideline adherent treatment and rescreening for the range of possible positive screen results: cervicitis, precancerous lesions (mild, moderate, severe), invasive cervical cancer. Participants who receive the guideline adherent treatment for their positive screen result will be coded as 1 or "yes". Participants who do not receive the guideline adherent treatment for their positive screen will be coded as 0 or "no".
0-12 months [from screening result to treatment completion]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cervical cancer screening
Time Frame: 0-24 months
Compare the number of women screened for cervical cancer pre (12 month retrospective review of screening rates) and throughout the two-year enrollment period at all intervention and control sites.
0-24 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cost-effectiveness of the CATSystem Intervention on screening and treatment outcomes
Time Frame: Years 2 and 3
The cost and cost-effectiveness of the CATSystem to improve Quality-Adjusted Life-Years (QALYs).
Years 2 and 3

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Kansas Medical Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
San Diego State University
University of Michigan
DARTNet Institute
Global Health Innovations

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Sarah Finocchario-Kessler, PhD, Univer
  • Principal Investigator: Natabhona Mabachi, PhD, DARTNet Institute

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 5, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 6, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 21, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 12, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • R01CA278617 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Investigators will make data collected for aims 1 & 2 available only upon request from users who meet eligibility. Data from aim 3 includes costing data for PMTCT services. These data will be shared openly at the dissemination meetings planned at the end of the study, which will include county and national health personnel. Furthermore, these data will be placed in a readily accessible public database.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

After participant follow up is complete, data are cleaned, and the data set is locked.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Eligible requesters are those who can show proof of human subject's training and only under a data-sharing agreement that provides for: (1) use of the data only for research purposes, (2) exclusion of any identifying or potentially identifying information in shared analyses, publications, reports, etc., (3) appropriate storage and securing of the data to prevent authorized persons from accessing it, (4) a commitment to destroy or return the data after analyses are completed.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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