Personalised and Gamification-based Decision Aid (DA): a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study About Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening

NCT ID: NCT07269028

Last Updated: 2025-12-08

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

248 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-05-15

Study Completion Date

2024-12-31

Brief Summary

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 903,000 deaths annually. While population-based screening programmes have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing early detection and reducing mortality, participation rates remain suboptimal. Adherence is influenced by cognitive, psychological, and socioeconomic barriers.

This study aimed to assess the impact of a digital decision aid (DA), incorporating personalisation and gamification elements, on informed decision-making and adherence to CRC screening.

DA-CRC is a two-arm randomised controlled pilot trial. Individuals born in 1973-1974 living in the area served by the local health authority of Brescia (Northern Italy) who were invited for the first time to participate in the CRC screening programme, were eligible. An invitation letter, including instructions to download the PREVenGO app, was mailed to potential participants.

Upon download, participants were randomised to either the intervention or control arm. The intervention app included questionnaires on family history, knowledge of primary and secondary prevention, and locus of control (LoC), as well as gamification and reward features. The control app provided static educational content only. Notifications prompted users to complete follow-up assessments at 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2), receive prevention information, and attend screening.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Colo-rectal Cancer

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomized Clinical Trial
Primary Study Purpose

SCREENING

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Intervention

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Gamified Mobile App

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention app included questionnaires on family history, knowledge of primary and secondary prevention, and locus of control (LoC), as well as gamification and reward features.

Control

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Gamified Mobile App

The intervention app included questionnaires on family history, knowledge of primary and secondary prevention, and locus of control (LoC), as well as gamification and reward features.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Stable residence within one of the municipalities served by Brescia LHA;
* Ownership of a smartphone (Android or iOS);
* Proficiency in the Italian language;
* Provision of informed consent within the PREVenGO app.

Exclusion Criteria

* Failure to provide informed consent.
Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

51 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Agenzia di Tutela della Salute (ATS) di Brescia

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Pavia

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Cristina Montomoli

Full Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Cristina Montomoli

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Pavia

Locations

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Agenzia per la Tutela della Salute (ATS) di Brescia

Brescia, Brescia, Italy

Site Status

Countries

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Italy

References

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Reference Type BACKGROUND

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Roberto A, Colombo C, Candiani G, Satolli R, Giordano L, Jaramillo L, Castagno R, Mantellini P, Falini P, Carnesciali E, Valenza M, Costa L, Campari C, Caroli S, Faggiano RC, Orione L, Belmessieri B, Marchio V, Deandrea S, Silvestri A, Luciano D, Paci E, Mosconi P. A dynamic web-based decision aid to improve informed choice in organised breast cancer screening. A pragmatic randomised trial in Italy. Br J Cancer. 2020 Sep;123(5):714-721. doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-0935-2. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

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Gabel P, Larsen MB, Edwards A, Kirkegaard P, Andersen B. Effectiveness of a decision aid for colorectal cancer screening on components of informed choice according to educational attainment: A randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. 2020 Nov 10;15(11):e0241703. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241703. eCollection 2020.

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Stacey D, Legare F, Lewis K, Barry MJ, Bennett CL, Eden KB, Holmes-Rovner M, Llewellyn-Thomas H, Lyddiatt A, Thomson R, Trevena L. Decision aids for people facing health treatment or screening decisions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Apr 12;4(4):CD001431. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001431.pub5.

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Elwyn G, Frosch D, Rollnick S. Dual equipoise shared decision making: definitions for decision and behaviour support interventions. Implement Sci. 2009 Nov 18;4:75. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-75.

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O'Connor AM, Legare F, Stacey D. Risk communication in practice: the contribution of decision aids. BMJ. 2003 Sep 27;327(7417):736-40. doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7417.736.

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Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 May;71(3):209-249. doi: 10.3322/caac.21660. Epub 2021 Feb 4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33538338 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan, and Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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Protocol Number: NP5686

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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