Developing a computerized reminder system and evaluating the effects on the improvemtent of cancer screening

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to develop a computerized reminder system and evaluate it's effect in terms of percent age change of screening, and satisfaction. METHOD: It was conducted through 6 phases : Analyzing the job and defining the basic input data, developing the information system, collecting and inputing data, testing the system, working with the system, and evaluating it's effect. Participants were 787 people (female 30-69 years, and males 40-49 years) in 2 dong of Suyoung gu, Busan, who haven't had cancer screening for the stomach, breast, or cervix since Dec. 2000. There were three experimental groups: a letter; calling and calling after the letter reminder, and a non-equivalent control group. To determine whether services were obtained, a telephone survey was done after two months of follow-up. RESULT: A cancer screening information system with five DB modules was developed. Overall compliance with screening was not statistically significantly changed before and after applying computerized reminders for all three screening sites. Only 16% were satisfied with the reminder. CONCLUSION: This data didn't show that a reminder effort was effective of screening. However, because the evaluation interval was too short to find a difference in screening rate, we recommend additional longer prospective follow up studies.