NCT07214051

PR-CEAL: Community Outreach Engagement Group

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 500 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 21 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends regular screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted health screening practices, leading to a decrease in cancer screenings among the United States including Puerto Rico. This has been attributed to unwillingness, distrust, and insecurity related to accessing healthcare services. To overcome these challenges, a collaboration between PR-CEAL's Community Outreach Engagement Group (COEG), academic researchers, healthcare institutions, and community-based organizations proposed to engage in different community activities throughout the island. In these events, investigators conducted a single blinded community-based Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) regarding cancer screening practices in women 21 through 75 years. The community-based RCT employed a mixed-method design to gain insights into the perception of health and cancer screening status of participants regarding breast, uterine (cervical), and colorectal cancer. Data was collected through in person interviews and two follow up phone calls, enabling the researchers to obtain valuable sociodemographic information, assessing cancer screening history, and identifying existing barriers. The hypothesis of this study is that implementing evidence-based intervention at community settings across Puerto Rico will have a significant positive effect on cancer screening rates among non-adherent patients. By identifying and adapting the Prevention Care Management for Cancer Screening intervention and leveraging the expertise of the National Cancer Institute, the study aimed to improve screening rates, address barriers that hinder or delay screenings, and raise awareness about the importance of early detection.

Detailed description

The study aimed to recruit 500 participants. Recruited participants were women aged 21 through 75 years, overdue in at least one cancer screening test (breast cancer, cervical cancer, and/or colorectal cancer) based on the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines. Once the woman verbally consents to participate in the RCT, four pre-screening questions and a Cancer Screening Module will be conducted to determine her eligibility. If the woman is eligible, informed consent will be completed, followed by a contact information module, and a baseline survey using an adaptation of the Prevention Care Management approach. After identifying overdue participants and obtaining their RCT participation consent, REDcap randomly assigned them to control or intervention groups in a 1:1 ratio. The control group (n=250) received physical activity and mindfulness materials, while the intervention group (n=250) received educational materials that included screening center details and reminders related to cancer screening. Two follow-up calls, at four-week intervals, were performed to assess the screening status for all participants. 1. If the initial call was unanswered, two more attempts were made on consecutive days. Voicemails, if possible, will prompt a response. A second follow-up call was made four weeks later to evaluate the status. 2. If a participant answers the initial call but remains unscreened, Health Promoter encourages the intervention group to schedule doctor visits and cancer screening appointments. The second follow-up call in four weeks assesses the status. If the initial call is unanswered, two more attempts follow. Voicemails may be used to prompt a response. 3. If the participant answered the initial call and has an appointment for cancer screening, a second follow-up call in four weeks will assess screening status. If the initial call was unanswered, two more attempts were made. Voicemails were used to prompt a response. 4. The intervention ended if the participant confirmed an up-to-date status in the initial call. Once the study concluded, the control group received the cancer educational materials by mail.

Conditions

• Breast Cancer Prevention
• Colorectal Cancer Prevention
• Cervical Cancer Prevention

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cancer Screening Information	The intervention group (n=250) received educational materials that included: screening center details, and reminders related to cancer screening. Two follow-up calls, at four-week intervals each, assessed screening status for all participants.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-12-13
• Primary completion: 2024-07-12
• Completion: 2024-08-30
• First posted: 2025-10-09
• Last updated: 2025-10-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Puerto Rico