Participants needed for colon polyps study

LEBANON — A research team at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is recruiting participants for a study comparing the effectiveness of an at-home, stool-based test with a colonoscopy in finding colorectal cancer and large colorectal polyps.

The study, called Colonoscopy versus Stool-based Testing for Older Adults with a History of Colon Polyps, or COOP, also seeks to better understand patients’ experiences using this kind of at-home test, a fecal immunochemical test, or FIT.

Participants must be between 70 and 82 years old, speak English or Spanish, and have a history of colon polyps. They should not have a history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or genetic colorectal cancer syndrome. Eligibility screening is conducted over the phone.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either undergo a colonoscopy or the home-based test. Those assigned to the colonoscopy group will complete a one-time procedure with follow-up as necessary. Those assigned to the FIT group will complete the home-based test once a year for up to five years. If the FIT test finds blood in the stool, participants will be advised to have a follow-up colonoscopy.

All participants will be asked to complete a 20-minute survey once a year for up to five years. Participants receive $25 for each survey completed and $50 for the final survey.

More information about the study is available by contacting the researchers at 603-650-0220 or coopstudy@hitchcock.org, and online at: coopstudy.host.dartmouth.edu.