Effect of Static vs. Conversational AI-Generated Messages on Colorectal Cancer Screening Intent: a Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT ID: NCT07107152

Last Updated: 2025-08-07

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

915 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-06-11

Study Completion Date

2025-06-21

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to assess whether messages generated by a large language model (LLM), including both static and conversational formats, can increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening intentions among U.S. adults aged 45-75 who have never completed CRC screening. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Do personalized, AI-generated messages increase the self-reported likelihood of completing a stool-based CRC screening test within 12 months?

Do they also increase intent to undergo colonoscopy screening within 12 months?

Researchers will compare four groups: (1) no message control, (2) expert-written patient education materials, (3) a single AI-generated persuasive message, and (4) a motivational interviewing-style AI chatbot. These comparisons will help assess whether a conversational format offers added benefit over static AI or expert-generated content.

Participants will:

Be randomly assigned to one of the four study arms

Spend at least 3 minutes reading or interacting with their assigned material

Complete pre- and post-intervention surveys assessing intent to receive CRC screening

Receive messages tailored to their self-reported demographics, including age, political ideology, gender, education, community setting (urban, rural, suburb), self-reported health, and the last time they saw their PCP

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Colorectal Cancer Control and Prevention

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SCREENING

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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AI Motivational Interviewing Chatbot

The motivational interviewing chatbot refers to a GPT-4.1 based chatbot that has been instructed to follow motivational interviewing principals to persuade participants to get screened for CRC.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

AI Chatbot

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants engage in a multi-turn conversation with a GPT-4.1 chatbot trained to emulate motivational interviewing techniques. The chatbot personalizes its conversation based on each participant's demographics (age, gender, political ideology, education, urbanicity, health status, and last PCP visit). Conversations last at least 3 minutes and aim to increase participant motivation to complete colorectal cancer screening.

single GPT generated message

The single GPT generated message is a single \~640 word persuasive message generated by GPT-4.1 where GPT-4.1 is provided with the same self-reported demographics.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

single GPT generated message

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants receive a single \~640-word message generated by GPT-4.1. The message is tailored to participants' self-reported demographics (age, gender, political ideology, education, urbanicity, health status, and last PCP visit). The message provides persuasive content encouraging colorectal cancer screening, emphasizing stool and colonoscopy screening options. Participants are required to read the message for a minimum of 3 minutes.

CRC JAMA patient page

The 642 word JAMA Patient Page contains up to date information on screening guidelines for CRC directed at patients.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Expert-Written Patient Materials

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants read a 642-word expert-written educational summary from the Journal of the American Medical Association's Patient Page on colorectal cancer screening. The material is designed to provide objective information about screening options and guidelines recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force. Participants are required to read the material for at least 3 minutes.

No Message

Participants read a \~640 word fictional short story about a cat and dog.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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single GPT generated message

Participants receive a single \~640-word message generated by GPT-4.1. The message is tailored to participants' self-reported demographics (age, gender, political ideology, education, urbanicity, health status, and last PCP visit). The message provides persuasive content encouraging colorectal cancer screening, emphasizing stool and colonoscopy screening options. Participants are required to read the message for a minimum of 3 minutes.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

AI Chatbot

Participants engage in a multi-turn conversation with a GPT-4.1 chatbot trained to emulate motivational interviewing techniques. The chatbot personalizes its conversation based on each participant's demographics (age, gender, political ideology, education, urbanicity, health status, and last PCP visit). Conversations last at least 3 minutes and aim to increase participant motivation to complete colorectal cancer screening.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Expert-Written Patient Materials

Participants read a 642-word expert-written educational summary from the Journal of the American Medical Association's Patient Page on colorectal cancer screening. The material is designed to provide objective information about screening options and guidelines recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force. Participants are required to read the material for at least 3 minutes.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adults aged 45 to 75 years
* Currently residing in the United States
* Self-reported no prior colorectal cancer screening (or unsure if screened)
* Able to read and understand English
* Consent to participate in a behavioral research study

Exclusion Criteria

* Previous colonoscopy, stool test, sigmoidoscopy, or CT colonography
* Failure to pass pre- or post-intervention attention checks
* Identified as non-human respondents by reCAPTCHA or other automated bot detection
* Completion time significantly shorter than the median, indicating inattentiveness
Minimum Eligible Age

45 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Pennsylvania

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Participants are recruited online via Prolific

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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crc_857299

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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