Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
A randomized controlled trial of a tailored interactive computer-delivered intervention to promote colorectal cancer
Sally W Vernon1, Leona K Bartholomew, Amy McQueen
1Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Sally.W.Vernon@uth.tmc.edu
Background:
There have been few studies of tailored interventions to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.
Purpose:
We conducted a randomized trial of a tailored, interactive intervention to increase CRC screening.
Methods:
Patients 50-70 years completed a baseline survey, were randomized to one of three groups, and attended a wellness exam after being exposed to a tailored intervention about CRC screening (tailored group), a public web site about CRC screening (web site group), or no intervention (survey-only group). The primary outcome was completion of any recommended CRC screening by 6 months.
Results:
There was no statistically significant difference in screening by 6 months: 30%, 31%, and 28% of the survey-only, web site, and tailored groups were screened. Exposure to the tailored intervention was associated with increased knowledge and CRC screening self-efficacy at 2 weeks and 6 months. Family history, prior screening, stage of change, and physician recommendation moderated the intervention effects.
Conclusions:
A tailored intervention was not more effective at increasing screening than a public web site or only being surveyed.
