Adapting invitation letters to increase breast screening attendance
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adapting the breast screening invitation letters to increase attendance at breast screening appointments
IRAS ID
214139
Contact name
Isabelle Andresen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 8 days
Research summary
This study aims to test whether it is possible to increase attendance rates for breast screening by adapting the invitation letters sent to eligible women.
The average breast screening attendance rate across England is 75.4%, while Greater Manchester’s screening rate is below this national average at 61.6%. In this context, NHS Manchester would like to increase the breast screening rate within Greater Manchester.
The study will be undertaken by the Behavioural Insights Team in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership and four breast screening centres which cover Greater Manchester area (East Cheshire Trust; University Hospital of South Manchester; Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Foundation Trust; and Royal Bolton Foundation Trust) . Synertec, the company who prints and posts the letters will also be involved in the randomisation & implementation of the trial.
The trial will test the impact of adapting the breast screening invitation letter, sent to women registered with a GP, between the ages of 50 and 70 (some women aged 48, 49 and over 70 will also be included) to invite them to a pre-booked breast screening appointment. During the trial, a third of women will receive the standard invitation letter (already routinely sent out by the screening centres), a third will receive a simplified invitation letter with a tear off slip and a message stating the cost to the NHS of missing the appointment and a third of the women will receive a simplified letter with a tear off slip and a behaviourally informed deadline message.
Attendance rates at breast screening appointments will be used to assess whether those who received the adapted letters were more likely to attend their breast screening appointments, compared to those who received the standard letter.
This study builds on previous research on encouraging greater uptake of breast and cervical screening.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0413
Date of REC Opinion
26 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion