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Cancer Prevention & Control, Client-oriented Screening Interventions: Client Reminders

Client reminders are written (letter, postcard, email) or telephone messages (including automated messages) advising people that they are due for screening. Client reminders may be enhanced by one or more of the following:

  • Follow-up printed or telephone reminders
  • Additional text or discussion with information about indications for, benefits of, and ways to overcome barriers to screening
  • Assistance in scheduling appointments

These interventions can be untailored to address the overall target population or tailored with the intent to reach one specific person, based on characteristics unique to that person, related to the outcome of interest, and derived from an individual assessment.

Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends the use of client reminders to increase screening for breast and cervical cancers on the basis of strong evidence of effectiveness. The Task Force also recommends the use of client reminders to increase colorectal cancer screening with fecal occult blood testing based on strong evidence of effectiveness.

Evidence is insufficient, however, to determine effectiveness of client reminders in increasing colorectal cancer screening with other tests (colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy), because of inconsistent evidence.

Task Force Finding & Rationale Statement

The Task Force recommendation was made in July 2010. It is based on evidence from a previously completed review (search period 1966-2004) and an updated review (search period 2004-2008). Updates of reviews are conducted to incorporate more recent evidence.

These reviews were conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice and policy related to cancer prevention and control. Please subscribe to be notified as new materials on this topic become available.

Read a summary of findings from the previous review or visit the Cancer Prevention and Control section of our publications page to access the complete articles.

image of planetFind a Research-Tested Intervention Program (RTIP) about the use of of client reminders to increase breast External Web Site Icon , cervical External Web Site Icon or colorectal External Web Site Icon cancer screening. (What is an RTIP?).



Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions on this page are those of the Community Preventive Services Task Force and do not necessarily represent those of CDC.

Sample Citation

The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation:
Guide to Community Preventive Services. Cancer prevention & control, client-oriented screening interventions: client reminders (abbreviated). www.thecommunityguide.org/cancer/screening/client-oriented/reminders_a.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.

Review completed: July 2010