Evaluating Online Messages About Colon Cancer Screening

The goal of the study is to determine, using a choice-based approach, what messages (pulled from various online sites) people find more and less persuasive and shareable on the topic of colorectal cancer screening. As a secondary goal, the study is interested how various information behaviors, such as people's self-reported seeking of health information and encountering of health information, demographic variables, individual difference variables, and message exposure associate with their intentions to adhere to recommended colorectal cancer screening guidelines from the National Cancer Institute. The study is interested at differences specifically among Black and White Americans of recommended screening age (45-74).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Colonic Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Perceived Effectiveness Prompt; Behavioral: Perceived Shareability Prompt

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 2210

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Utah
    • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84112
      • University of Utah Hospital/ Huntsman Cancer Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants will be White (n=1,000) and Black (n=1,000) Americans between the ages of 45 and 74. The goal of the study is to determine if there are differences in message preferences and evaluations between these two groups due to historical disparities in colorectal cancer screening uptake and outcomes.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Identify as white/Caucasian or Black/African American.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Do not identify as white/Caucasian or Black/African American.
• Previously diagnosed with colorectal cancer

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Perceived Shareablility Prompt First	Behavioral: Perceived Effectiveness Prompt; Participants will assess pairs of messages with the prompt, "Which of the messages below is more likely to make you want to get screened for colorectal cancer? Participants will also be able to provide their own idea for a message rather than selecting a message from the pairs presented.; Behavioral: Perceived Shareability Prompt; Participants will assess pairs of messages with the prompt, "Which of the messages below would you be more likely to share with your friends or family?" Participants will also be able to provide their own idea for a message rather than selecting a message from the pairs presented.
Perceived Effectiveness Prompt First	Behavioral: Perceived Effectiveness Prompt; Participants will assess pairs of messages with the prompt, "Which of the messages below is more likely to make you want to get screened for colorectal cancer? Participants will also be able to provide their own idea for a message rather than selecting a message from the pairs presented.; Behavioral: Perceived Shareability Prompt; Participants will assess pairs of messages with the prompt, "Which of the messages below would you be more likely to share with your friends or family?" Participants will also be able to provide their own idea for a message rather than selecting a message from the pairs presented.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants in Determining Messages	This outcome measure will report the number of participants who participated in determining the Online Messages About Colon Cancer Screening. This study will help determine the content of Colon Cancer Screening messaging for future research.	15 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Intentions to Follow Screening Recommendations in the Future	Single item self-report of intentions to follow USPSTF recommendations for colorectal cancer screening on a seven-point scale. A low score (Minimum: 1 Extremely Unlikely to follow USPSTF recommendations) is an unfavorable outcome and a high score (Maximum: 7 Extremely Likely to follow USPSTF recommendations) is a favorable outcome.	15 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Utah
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andy J. King, PhD, Huntsman Cancer Institute/ University of Utah

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 5, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 8, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): February 8, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 10, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 10, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): November 18, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 20, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 25, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Intestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Colorectal Neoplasms; Intestinal Neoplasms; Colonic Diseases; Colonic Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: HCI164736

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