Randomized Controlled Trial on Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Quality Circles of Primary Care Physicians

QC meetings with PCPs in the intervention group to reflect on their CRC screening practices and implement changes in sequential Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) quality improvement cycles. In the first meeting, they will be given evidence summaries on CRC screening, a decision support leaflet designed to help them discuss CRC screening with their patients and a patient decision aid in form of a brochure (Plan-Do). PCPs will receive sample FIT kits recommended for organized screening programs and will be encouraged to offer FIT tests if they have not done so before. In the second QC meeting, PCPs will be shown how to fill out the patient data collection form (Check). The third QC meeting will take place after data collection and analysis. Researchers will present their results to the QCs and PCPs will discuss subsequent steps to improve care (Act). The QC will then repeat one PDCA cycle. The control group will receive the same intervention one year later.

The control group will undergo a crossover and receive the same intervention one year after the intervention group. QC meetings with PCPs in the intervention group to reflect on their CRC screening practices and implement changes in sequential Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) quality improvement cycles. In the first meeting, they will be given evidence summaries on CRC screening, a decision support leaflet designed to help them discuss CRC screening with their patients and a patient decision aid in form of a brochure (Plan-Do). PCPs will receive sample FIT kits recommended for organized screening programs and will be encouraged to offer FIT tests if they have not done so before. In the second QC meeting, PCPs will be shown how to fill out the patient data collection form (Check). The third QC meeting will take place after data collection and analysis. Researchers will present their results to the QCs and PCPs will discuss subsequent steps to improve care (Act).