A comprehensive review and meta-analysis of 25 studies, involving approximately 30,000 adults, revealed that behavioral interventions can significantly enhance colonoscopy screening rates. The interventions, which included methods like patient navigation, informational brochures, and primary care provider counseling, were found to increase colonoscopy screening completion by 54% compared to standard care. Among these, patient navigation and multi-component interventions were the most frequently studied and showed the highest effectiveness, with odds ratios of 1.78 and 1.84 respectively.
The study, led by Stephanie Yakoubovitch, MD, from Florida Atlantic University, emphasizes the importance of adopting behavioral interventions in clinical practice to improve screening rates. However, the research also noted significant variability in results across different interventions and a need for further investigation into the effects of age on intervention outcomes. The findings were published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology and received funding from the National Cancer Institute.