Increasing uptake of cervical screening through behavioural insight
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does use of an invitation letter optimised based on behavioural insights increase uptake of cervical screening appointments? A randomised controlled trial study
IRAS ID
180795
Contact name
Annabelle Bonus
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Department of Health
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 16 days
Research summary
The purpose of this research is to look at ways to increase take up of cervical screening appointments. This study uses a randomised controlled trial to see whether changes to the invitation letter sent to women who are eligible for a screening appointment can increase take up of screening appointments. The intervention letters are based on behavioural insights (i.e. an understanding of how people behave). The setting is the inner North East London region (covering Newham, City and Hackney and Tower Hamlets). The NHS Shared Business Service for North East London is responsible for the administration of the invitation letters for this region . All women eligible for a screening appointment during the 9-week trial period will be included in the trial. The trial will recruit just under 27,000 women in total. In each of the 9 weeks of the trial, women will be randomised to one of three groups: the standard invitation letter based on the national template (control/letter A), intervention 1 (letter B) or intervention 2 (letter C). The primary outcome is the rate of attendance at a cervical screening appointment within three months following the letter being sent, comparing intervention and control groups. Secondary outcomes will look at whether demographics (age and deprivation) are related to response to the interventions.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0375
Date of REC Opinion
29 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion