Electronic Reminders Failed To Boost Cancer Screening, Study Finds

An electronic reminder system that notifies physicians when patients need  colorectal cancer tests failed to significantly increase screening rates, according  to a study published in the Journal of Clinical  Oncology, Reuters reports.

Study Details

For the study, researchers analyzed colorectal cancer screening rates at  eight Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals that deployed an electronic  reminder system called Oncology Watch in 2008. The hospitals integrated Oncology  Watch into VA’s electronic health record system to boost colorectal cancer  screening rates and improve care.

Researchers examined each hospital’s colorectal cancer screening rates two  years before and two years after the Oncology Watch system launched, and  compared those rates with 121 VA hospitals nationwide that do not have the  Oncology Watch system.

Study Findings

Researchers found that:

• In 2006, average colorectal cancer screening rates were 38% at hospitals  with the electronic reminders and 31% at hospitals without the reminders;
• In 2007, the screening rates were 32% at hospitals with the electronic  reminders and 30% at hospitals without the reminders;
• In 2009, the screening rates were 34% at hospitals with the electronic  reminders and 32% at hospitals without the reminders; and
• In 2010, the screening rates were 33% at hospitals with the electronic  reminders and 31% at hospitals without the reminders.

Accompanying Editorial

In an editorial accompanying the study, Marko Simunovic of  McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, wrote that the study findings imply that  “there doesn’t seem to be any benefit to Oncology Watch.”

However, he added that a randomized controlled trial would be necessary to  verify that the electronic reminder system offers no benefits (Seaman, Reuters, 10/12).

Source: iHealthBeat

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