부산대학교 도서관

Background: The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a cost‐effective colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tool. However, longitudinal adherence, a factor that is critical to the success to any FIT‐based screening program, often is poor. The authors hypothesized that reminders sent via mobile messengers, such as WhatsApp, improve such adherence. Methods: In the current single‐blind, randomized study, subjects from an opportunistic FIT screening program who had a negative FIT result the year prior were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive either a 1‐off reminder via the WhatsApp messenger (WR) 1 month prior to the due appointments or no reminder (NR). All subjects were blinded to study participation and group allocation. At 24 months after randomization, a crossover of intervention was performed among those individuals who remained in the FIT program. The primary outcome was FIT adherence, defined as the pick‐up and on‐time return of the FIT. The secondary outcome was FIT adherence after the crossover. Results: A total of 500 subjects were randomized to receive WR (250 subjects) or NR (250 subjects). Three individuals were excluded from analysis (1 died and 2 underwent colonoscopy). Both the FIT pick‐up rate (80.3% vs 59.3%; P <.001) and return rate (79.9% vs 57.3%; P <.001) were significantly higher in the WR group compared with the NR group. After crossover of intervention (452 subjects), the WR group again was found to have a higher FIT pick‐up rate (79.1% vs 52.9%; P <.001) and return rate (78.2% vs 52.4%; P <.001). Conclusions: Text reminders sent via mobile messenger appear to improve the longitudinal adherence to FIT‐based opportunistic CRC screening programs. The routine use of this technology in CRC screening should be considered. The fecal immunochemical test is a cost‐effective screening tool for colorectal cancer. The results of the current single‐blind, crossover, randomized controlled study demonstrate that longitudinal adherence to a stool‐based screening program can be significantly improved by reminders sent via a mobile‐based messenger (WhatsApp Messenger). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]