Animated Storytelling to Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening

NCT07522177 — Not applicable, Not yet recruiting, 3000 participants, Stanford University

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Using Short Animated Storytelling to Increase Intent for Colorectal Cancer Screening: A U.S. Online Randomized Controlled Trial

Registry	NCT07522177
Status	Not yet recruiting
Phase	Not applicable
Study type	Interventional; randomized, parallel, masking: none, prevention
Enrollment	3000 (Estimated)
Sponsor	Stanford University (Other); collaborators: Heidelberg University
Conditions	Colorectal Cancer Screening
Interventions	Short animated storytelling video (Behavioral)
Dates	start 2026-09-01 (estimated), primary completion 2026-11-01 (estimated), completion 2026-12-01 (estimated), first posted 2026-04-13, last updated 2026-09-04
Locations	1 site in United States

-Summary

This online randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether a short animated storytelling video increases behavioral expectation to obtain colorectal cancer screening among screening-eligible U.S. adults who report not yet having completed screening. Participants will be recruited via Prolific and randomized in Stanford Qualtrics to view either a brief animated video or a time-neutral informational text. Outcomes will be assessed immediately after exposure.

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+Arms and interventions

Arm	Type	Interventions	Description
Animated Storytelling Video	Experimental	Behavioral: Short animated storytelling video	Participants view a brief animated storytelling video about colorectal cancer screening and colonoscopy.
Do-nothing Control	No intervention		Participants complete surveys only and receive no intervention.

Short animated storytelling video (Behavioral): A brief animated storytelling video about colorectal cancer screening and colonoscopy.

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Change from baseline in behavioral expectation (simple and next-step) to obtain colorectal cancer screening, as measured by a 7-item visual analogue scale. [Baseline, immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)]: Participant self-reports their likelihood of discussing, scheduling, or obtaining colorectal cancer screening after exposure to assigned study material. Total scores range from 0-70 with higher scores indicating greater behavioral expectation (Item 7 is reverse scored).

Secondary outcomes

Change from baseline in knowledge about colorectal cancer screening and colonoscopy, as measured by a 5-item knowledge questionnaire. [Baseline, immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)]: Self-reported knowledge regarding colorectal cancer screening and the preventive role of colonoscopy, including detection and removal of pre-cancerous polyps. Response options are true/false/not sure, with 1 point per correct answer and 0 points for incorrect or "not sure". Total scores range from 0-5, with higher scores indicating higher knowledge.
Change from baseline in perceptions and beliefs about colonoscopy, as measured by a 13-item scale. [Baseline, immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)]: Self-reported perceptions an beliefs about colonoscopy include perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and perceived barriers. Responses will be compared on a Likert scale that ranges from 1-5 (Strongly disagree / Disagree / Neither / Agree / Strongly agree), where higher scores indicate more positive perceptions and beliefs, with the perceived barriers section reverse scored.

+Eligibility

Sex: All, ages: 45 Years to any

Inclusion Criteria:

* Resides in the United States
* Able to read and understand English
* Self-reports not having completed colorectal cancer screening
* Provides electronic informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior diagnosis of colorectal cancer
* Self-reported completion of colorectal cancer screening

+Locations (1)

Facility	City	Country	Status
Stanford University	Stanford, California	United States

+Investigators

Maya Adam, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, Stanford University