Impact of Quantitative Information and a Nudge on Attitudes toward Colorectal Cancer Screening

Abstract

Research in behavioral economics suggests that individuals facing complex decisions benefit from being given a “nudge” towards one option, especially in situations where making any choice, as opposed to none, is preferred. Decisions about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening are of this type, since several tests are recommended by guidelines, including colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and stool testing. No studies have examined the use of a nudge in the context of CRC screening. In this study, we compared the effects of two different approaches to providing quantitative information about CRC risk and benefits of screening, one with and one without a nudge towards fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) (a stool test).