Behavior change interventions to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) screening
have targeted people in community and primary care settings, health care
providers, and health systems. Randomized controlled trials provide the strongest
evidence of intervention efficacy. The purpose of this integrative review
was to evaluate trials of CRC screening interventions published between 1997
and 2007 and to identify knowledge gaps and future directions for research.
Thirty-three randomized trials that met inclusion criteria were evaluated using
a modified version of the TREND criteria. Significant intervention effects were
reported in 6 of 10 trials focused on increasing fecal occult blood testing, 4 of 7
trials focused on sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy completion, and 9 of 16 trials
focused on completion of any screening test. Several effective interventions to
promote CRC screening were identified. Future trials need to use theory to guide
interventions, examine moderators and mediators, consistently report results,
and use comparable outcome measures