New Study Reveals Surprising Effectiveness of Colon Cancer Screenings
A new study co-authored by an MIT economist reveals that colon cancer screenings are more effective in reducing cancer rates than previously understood. The study, which reanalyzed data from five trials, found that screening reduces the rate of colon cancer by about 0.5 percent, twice the impact previously estimated. Previous studies failed to account for nonadherence to the intended treatment, as many trial subjects offered the chance to screen decide to skip it. The findings highlight the importance of getting screened rather than just being invited to screen and emphasize the need for instrumental variable analysis to accurately measure the effect of screening in clinical research.