Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Evaluation of a New Invitation Procedure to the French Organized Colorectal Cancer Screening Program

This study is testing new ways to help more people in France participate in bowel cancer screening. Currently, people get a letter asking them to visit their GP to get a home testing kit. This study is testing if sending the home test kit directly with the invitation letter, or sending a reminder beforehand, makes more people do the test. The researchers want to see if these new approaches encourage more people to do the screening test. If successful, this new way of inviting people could be used more widely. The study will compare how many people complete the test in each group to see which method works best to improve bowel cancer screening rates.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

International Agency for Research on Cancer

Enrolment target

64,500

Start

01 Apr 2023

Estimated completion

27 Feb 2026

Colorectal Cancer

What is this study about?

Bowel cancer screening is really important for catching bowel cancer early, which makes it much easier to treat. In France, not enough people are currently taking part in their national bowel cancer screening programme. This study is a pilot project, which means it's a small-scale trial to see if new ideas work before they are rolled out more widely.

The main idea being tested is how people are invited to take part. At the moment, when it's your turn for screening, you get a letter telling you to go to your GP practice to pick up a home testing kit. This study wants to see if sending the home test kit directly to you in the post, along with the invitation letter, might encourage more people to do the test. They are also looking at whether sending a quick heads-up notice before the main invitation helps.

Researchers will compare how many people complete the home test in the different groups. They will also check if those who have a positive result on their home test go on to have further checks, like a colonoscopy. By finding a better way to invite people, the hope is that more people will be screened, leading to earlier detection of bowel cancer and better health outcomes.

Key takeaways

The study tests new ways to invite people to bowel cancer screening.
It aims to increase the number of people taking part in screening.
Participants will receive screening invitations differently (either via GP or directly by post).
There are no new treatments or medications involved.
The study is observing participation rates in an existing health programme.
It's a pilot project, meaning improved methods might be used more widely later.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for men and women between 50 and 74 years old who live in certain areas of France (Ardennes, Meurthe-et-Moselle, and Moselle). You would be eligible if you're considered to be at a moderate risk of bowel cancer and are getting your very first invitation to participate in this screening round, not a reminder for a previous one.

This means if you're under 50 or over 74, you wouldn't be able to join this particular study. Also, if you've already received a reminder letter for a screening, you wouldn't be eligible. Finally, if your doctor has told you that you are at a high or very high risk of bowel cancer, this study isn't for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 50 and 74 years old?
Do you live in Ardennes, Meurthe-et-Moselle, or Moselle, France?
Are you due to get your *first* invitation for bowel cancer screening this time around (not a reminder)?
Have you been told you are at moderate risk of bowel cancer (not high or very high risk)?
Have you not already received a reminder letter for this screening round?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you won't need to visit a clinic or take any new medication. Instead, you'll be assigned to one of two groups. One group will continue with the standard way of being invited to screening, which involves getting a letter asking you to see your GP to pick up a home test kit. The other group will receive their home test kit directly in the post along with their invitation letter, and some might also get an earlier notification letter.

The main thing researchers will watch for is whether you send back your completed home test kit to the lab. If you don't send it back after a certain time, you'll receive reminder letters, just like in the regular screening programme. If your home test shows a positive result, the researchers will also follow up to see if you have further checks, like a colonoscopy. The study just observes how people respond to different invitation methods, so your involvement primarily revolves around how you receive and react to the screening invitation. There are no extra tests or appointments required specifically for the study.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no direct risks to taking part in this study, as it's simply looking at different ways of inviting people to an existing screening programme. You won't be given any new treatments or asked to do anything outside of what the national screening programme would entail. A potential benefit is that improving screening rates can help catch bowel cancer earlier, which is good for public health. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time by not returning your screening kit, and this will not affect your usual medical care or future screening invitations.

Locations (3)

Regional Cancer Screening Coordinating Centre, Ardennes site
Verified postcode
Charleville-Mézières, France
Regional Cancer Screening Coordinating Centre, Meurthe-et-Moselle Site
Verified postcode
Nancy, France
Regional Cancer Screening Coordinating Centre, Moselle Site
Verified postcode
Metz, France

Common questions

What is bowel cancer screening?

It's a way to check for early signs of bowel cancer using a simple home test, often called a FIT test, which looks for tiny traces of blood in your poo that you can't see.

Why is this study happening?

The study aims to find better ways to encourage more people to get checked for bowel cancer, as current participation rates in France are lower than they could be.

Do I need to take any new medicines if I join?

No, this study doesn't involve any new medicines or treatments. It's only looking at how people are invited to do the standard bowel cancer screening test.

What happens if my home test is positive?

If your home test is positive, it means further checks are needed. You would be contacted to discuss the next steps, usually a colonoscopy, just as you would under the regular screening programme.

Can I still do the screening if I don't join the study?

Yes, this study is about *how* people are invited. The national bowel cancer screening programme continues as normal, and you would still receive invitations based on your age and location.