Agile evaluation including two pragmatic trials on the uptake of a digital screening service
Abstract Digital screening may divert lower-risk persons to lower-cost online screening, or offer higher-risk non-responders a more acceptable alternative. Population-based uptake estimates are lacking. We conducted four studies within four weeks by inviting 1700 Londoners (40–74 years, without card...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | npj Digital Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01672-5 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Digital screening may divert lower-risk persons to lower-cost online screening, or offer higher-risk non-responders a more acceptable alternative. Population-based uptake estimates are lacking. We conducted four studies within four weeks by inviting 1700 Londoners (40–74 years, without cardiovascular disease) to a digital Health Check. A six-arm pragmatic unregistered randomised controlled trial (RCT) tested different Short Message Service (SMS) invitations. Uptake varied from 12% (standard SMS) to 20% (shortest SMS, P = 0.009). We tested three sequential reminders (an SMS, a second pragmatic trial [SMS vs postal reminder], and a final SMS). The first SMS reminder increased uptake by +3%. The postal reminder (+7%) was twice as effective as the SMS reminder (+3%, P < 0.0001). The “final reminder” SMS added +7%. Altogether, shorter invites, multi-modal reminders, and a “final reminder” all increased uptake. Adding digital care to in person care may raise uptake from 50 to 60%. Agile evaluations can rapidly improve invitation systems. |
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| ISSN: | 2398-6352 |