Dr Nick Clarke awarded Irish Cancer Society 'Increasing Bowel Screening Uptake' Research Grant
Dr Nick Clarke has been awarded the Irish Cancer Society Increasing Bowel Screening Uptake Research Award for his project entitled “Interventions to improve bowel cancer screening uptake in Ireland: a 2x2 factorial trial”. This new research has emerged from Nick's previous work within his PhD.
Dr Nick Clarke has been involved in cancer research for the past 10 years. Nick’s research focuses on improving participation in bowel cancer screening in Ireland as well as coordinating a self-management trial for survivors of head and neck cancer who have recently completed their treatment. Nick completed his PhD in 2017 which was funded through an Irish Cancer Society scholarship. Nick currently works with Professor Pamela Gallagher in the School of Psychology in DCU.
Project Summary
Currently all people in Ireland between the age of 60-69 are offered a bowel screening test every two years. The test can be done in the privacy of the persons own home and takes only a few minutes. Currently uptake is quite low, with only 41% of people completing the test. The test has the potential to detect cancer at earlier stages and even to detect lesions before they become cancerous.
The new trial will test two different interventions to increase the number of people who take up the opportunity to be screened for bowel cancer:
- The first intervention will test if more people take the bowel screening test if sent the test kit with the first invitation letter compared to those who only receive the invitation letter (and need to contact the BowelScreen helpline for the test).
- The second intervention will test a behavioural-based intervention which will attempt to nudge people’s behaviour towards taking the test.
Increasing the number of people who take the bowel screening test in Ireland is vital in our attempts to reduce both bowel cancer and bowel cancer deaths.
For more information
Phone
1800 200 700
