Effect of WhatsApp Messenger on Uptake of CRC Screening Study

August 2, 2021 updated by: Thomas Yuen Tung Lam, Chinese University of Hong Kong

The Effectiveness of WhatsApp Messenger on the Uptake of Colorectal Cancer Screening: a Non-inferiority Randomized Controlled Study

It is estimated that there are about 1.4 million patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide, with a rising trend in CRC incidence in many Asian Pacific countries1. In Hong Kong, colorectal cancer ranks first in cancer incidence and second in cancer mortality based on data from 20142.

Recent guidelines from USA, Europe and Asia Pacific region recommend CRC screening for average-risk asymptomatic individuals starting at age 503-5. Modalities such as guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests (gFOBT), fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS), and colonoscopy are among the acceptable options for CRC screening3-5.

Department of Health of Hong Kong launched a Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot Program in late 2016. This is a subsidized program offering primary care consultation with FIT. For those subjects with FIT positive, colonoscopy specialist consultation and colonoscopy will be arranged.

The local uptake rate of CRC screening was reported to be 24.5%8 , which is relatively low when compared to other developed county9.

In recent years, social media (SM) has become an increasingly popular source of health information10. By providing an easily accessible and interactive channel of communication between reviewers and information providers, it has potential values for affecting public health. However, the effects of SM on uptake of CRC screening has not yet been studied.

WhatsApp Messenger, is the most popular social media messaging app worldwide. This randomized controlled study will investigate the effect of WhatsApp vs telephone intervention on the uptake of CRC screening.

Study Overview

Status

Withdrawn

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background It is estimated that there are about 1.4 million patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) worldwide, with a rising trend in CRC incidence in many Asian Pacific countries1. In Hong Kong, colorectal cancer ranks first in cancer incidence and second in cancer mortality based on data from 20142.

Recent guidelines from USA, Europe and Asia Pacific region recommend CRC screening for average-risk asymptomatic individuals starting at age 503-5. Modalities such as guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests (gFOBT), fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS), and colonoscopy are among the acceptable options for CRC screening3-5.

Department of Health of Hong Kong launched a Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot Program in late 2016. This is a subsidized program offering primary care consultation with FIT. For those subjects with FIT positive, colonoscopy specialist consultation and colonoscopy will be arranged.

The local uptake rate of CRC screening was reported to be 24.5%8 , which is relatively low when compared to other developed county9.

In recent years, social media (SM) has become an increasingly popular source of health information10. By providing an easily accessible and interactive channel of communication between reviewers and information providers, it has potential values for affecting public health. However, the effects of SM on uptake of CRC screening has not yet been studied.

WhatsApp Messenger, is the most popular social media messaging app worldwide. This randomized controlled study will investigate the effect of WhatsApp vs telephone intervention on the uptake of CRC screening.

Hypothesis Delivery of information of CRC screening program via SM can encourage uptake of CRC screening.

Aim To investigate the effectiveness of Delivery of information of CRC screening program via WhatsApp on the uptake of CRC screening

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Hong Kong
      • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
        • Prince of Wales 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

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 50 - 70
  • Asymptomatic

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lack of access to WhatsApp messenger

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: WhatsApp message
WhatsApp messages will be sent to invite subjects to participate CRC screening
Other: WhatsApp message
WhatsApp message will be sent to invite subjects to participate in CRC screening
Active Comparator: Telephone call
Telephone call will be made to invite subjects to participate CRC screening
Other: Telephone call
Telephone call will be made to invite subjects to participate in CRC screening

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
CRC screening uptake rate
Time Frame: 1 year
Number of subjects participating in CRC screening after study intervention divided by the total number of subjects in each study arm
1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yuen Tung Thomas Lam, MSc, Chinese University of Hong Kong

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 (Anticipated)

February 1, 2019

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2019

Study Completion (Anticipated)

December 31, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 6, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 8, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

November 9, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 5, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 2, 2021

Last Verified

August 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • WhatsApp Uptake

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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