Effect of Patient Portal Messaging Before Mailing Fecal Immunochemical Testing Kit on Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates

Behavioral economics principles have increasingly been shown to improve health outcomes in the United States. They offer the ability to implement simple, low-cost and effective interventions to address key health issues without sacrificing the autonomy of patients. Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is a key area where behavioral economics principles can help improve health outcomes. Despite being the second leading cause of cancer related death, the rate of CRC screening remains well below national targets. Interventions to address these issues, and improve screening rates at our institution have including implementing a Mailed FIT outreach program, and adding an informational letter that utilizes behavioral economic principles. To further improve our screening rates, this project builds upon our previous efforts to include a randomized electronic message primer via patients electronic patient portal, to help alert them of incoming FIT Kit and complete screening. This study will contribute to the growing literature of behavioral economics in medicine, while addressing an important health issue.