Background: Screening tests for Colorectal cancer (CRC) can reduce mortality due to the disease. The CALIS (CAncer Literacy and Information Seeking) research aims to increase colorectal cancer screening in Italian people (50-69), by understanding the role of ‘Health Literacy’ (HL), ‘Psychological Empowerment’ (PE)and ‘Information seeking behavior’ (ISB)in cancer screening adherence.
Methods: The CALIS project is composed of four studies: The first is a cross-sectional survey to understand the role of HL and EP in people over 50 years for colorectal cancer screening. The second is a RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of different forms of screening recommendations in order to increase CRC screening rates. The third is a longitudinal quantitative study to monitor the information seeking behavior of people (50-69) during the cancer journey after a colorectal cancer screening test. The fourth is a longitudinal quantitative study to understand the motivations for seeking information during the cancer journey after a positive or colorectal cancer screening test
Results: The study 1 and 3 have been started in 2015, the pre-test of the Questionnaires was conducted.
Calis 1:14 participants were recruited in the pre-test (think-aloud technique). After some changes, the questionnaires were validated with other 70 interviews (think-aloud technique).
In the march 2015 we sent 3000 questionnaires to people that for the first time were invited to CRC- screening (other will be sent in the next months) .
Calis 2: 32 participants were invited to take part in the pre-test: a total of 31 participants completing the questionnaire. In April 2015 two colonoscopy units were activated (other will be activate) to collect questionnaires from patients positive to the screening test.
Conclusion: This study could provide a better comprehension of the impact of HL ,PE and ISB on decisions to adhere to cancer screening recommendations to plan effective screening recommendations
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