Comparative educational approaches to screening for colorectal cancer

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the public's willingness to perform the do-it-yourself Hemoccult Test for colon-rectum cancer and to assess the relative effectiveness of alternative means of persuading people to do the test. American Cancer Society volunteers in 4 different parts of the country contacted a total of 11,115 members of the American Association of Retired Persons, using 5 methods that differed in the extent of personal and impersonal contact involved. Other variables such as inclusion of postage and dietary restrictions were studied and cost efficiencies were estimated. The Group Meeting Method was the most effective personal distribution method. The Selective Mail-Out Method was the most effective impersonal method. The return rate was higher when postage was provided. Dietary restrictions did not markedly reduce participation. Including digital examinations did not affect the return rate. The findings suggest that the Hemoccult Test has the potential of reaching a significant proportion of the nation's older population.