Recruiting

Text Messaging Strategy

Sponsor:

George Washington University

Code:

NCT07220018

Conditions

Colorectal Cancer

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 45 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

mHealth for Colorectal cancer screening in Homeless Persons

Control SMS Messages

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study is designed to assess the effect of implementing a text messaging strategy for colorectal cancer screening among homeless persons aged 45-75 years, who are not up to date on colorectal cancer screening, in shelter clinics in NYC. This mixed-methods study uses a randomized clinical trial design and semi-structured interviews.

Conditions

Colorectal Cancer

Study ID

NCT07220018

Start date

Sep 21, 2026

Status verified date

Sep, 2026

Completion date

Sep 19, 2030

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun 2, 2030

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 45 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Homeless persons aged 45 - 75 years old, with no up-to-date colorectal cancer screening defined as: 1) no colonoscopy in the past 10 years, or 2) no Flexible sigmoidoscopy, Digital Contrast Barium Enema, or CT colonoscopy in the past 5 years, or 3) no Fecal Immunochemical Test/Fecal Occult Blood in the past 12 months or mt-sDNA/Cologuard Test in the past three years
  • English or Spanish speaking
  • currently presenting to the shelter clinics for medical care
  • connected to multidisciplinary social and health services in NYC shelter clinics

Exclusion Criteria:

  • known active/uncontrolled illness rendering homeless persons to undergo screening, CRC in the past 2 years, colectomy, Inflammatory Bowel Dis., Familial Adenomatous Polyposis or other colorectal diseases in which screening is different from average CRC risk and methods, inability to consent, serious/significant comorbidity where life expectancy is limited or screening is not recommended, which will be verified by their respective provider
  • inability to read and respond to SMS texts
  • any condition preventing participants from providing informed consent.

Study Design

Enrollment

588 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Health Services Research

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Colorectal Cancer Specific Education

6 months of mHealth Colorectal cancer educational messages. The content will address elements such as activating and educating patients, exploring and removing challenges, accommodating personal goals, and engaging and targeting subgroups. Texts will be delivered to encourage cancer screenings and lifestyle changes, and participants will receive appointment reminders before each appointment with a follow-up text and robocall if the appointment is missed.

other: General Health Education

6 months of mHealth, including basic healthcare and general health promotion via SMS texts that do not overlap with CRC screening content.

Interventions

mHealth for Colorectal cancer screening in Homeless Persons

Specific colorectal cancer educational SMS text messages are sent to participants' mobile phones

Control SMS Messages

Standard health information SMS text messages sent to participants' mobile phones

Primary outcome measure

  • Completion of CRC Screening [ Time Frame: 6 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Leah Bauder, MPH

202-994-6803leahbaud@gwu.edu

Locations

George Washington University

Recruiting

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States, 20052

Contacts

Ramin Asgary, MD, MPH

202-994-6803raminasgary1@gwu.edu

More Information

Sponsor

George Washington University

Last update posted

Sep 15, 2026

Last verified

Sep, 2026

Keywords

  • homeless persons
  • mHealth
  • short message service
  • texting

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-16. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by George Washington University on 2026-09-15.