HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

TRACK to:

Original Research: Allen J. Dietrich, Jonathan N. Tobin, Andrea Cassells, Christina M. Robinson, Meredith Reh, Karen A. Romero, Ann Barry Flood, and Michael L. Beach Translation of an Efficacious Cancer-Screening Intervention to Women Enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care Organization Ann Fam Med 2007; 5: 320-327 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

TRACK: Submit a comment to this article

Electronic letters published:

Practical implmentation of scripted telephone interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening

Ann Zauber   (23 August 2007)

Dissemination is a challenge

Richard Roetzheim   (1 August 2007)

Practical implmentation of scripted telephone interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening 23 August 2007
Ann Zauber, New York, New York Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, biostatistician Send response to journal: Re: Practical implmentation of scripted telephone interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening	Dr. Dietrich and colleagues are to be congratulated for conducting a practical clinical trial of the impact of cancer screening incentives within the constraints of active clinical practice in an HMO setting in low income women. Their original research found significant improvement in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rates with a prevention care management intervention which was resource intensive to run outside a research setting. The authors have been able to develop a program which is less intensive and doable within a clinical practice setting and yet which still delivers an impact on colorectal cancer screening. This new study is a randomized trial of a scripted assistance for resolving barriers and scheduling appointments compared to an educational fact sheet approach. The implication of this work is that even a limited telephone intervention with scripted texts for dealing with barriers in screening and scheduling assistance can increase participating in colorectal cancer screening in a low income population. We know that colorectal cancer screening can reduce colorectal cancer mortality but such screening is completed by only half the population at risk. Participation is even lower in minority populations. The proposed intervention shows benefit in a minority population Competing interests:   None declared
Dissemination is a challenge 1 August 2007
Richard Roetzheim, Tampa, USA U. of South Florida Send response to journal: Re: Dissemination is a challenge	The study by Dietrich et al addresses an important topic. All too often successful published interventions never get implemented in clinical practice. The authors seized on two factors that I think are key to dissemination. First they simplified the intervention strategy and kept it practical. Second, they conducted the intervention in an organization that had the necessary infrastructure to implement it, and importantly, one that had a clear stake in the outcome. I would love to hear from others what factors they believe are important in disseminating successful interventions into clinical practice. Competing interests:   None declared