Background: Recent evidence suggests that faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) can rule out colorectal cancer in symptomatic adults. To date, there is little research exploring experiences of FIT for this population. Aim: To explore patient experience and satisfaction with FIT in an ‘early adopter’ site in England. Design: We used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach combining mailed quantitative surveys with semi-structured telephone interviews. Methods: Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse quantitative data. Thematic analysis was used to assess qualitative transcripts. Results: The survey had 260 respondents and found satisfaction with FIT was high (88.7%). Compared with test satisfaction, the proportion of respondents satisfied with GP consultation, and how they received their results, was lower (74.4% and 76.2%, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed increased area-level deprivation and not receiving an explanation of the purpose of the test were associated with lower satisfaction with GP consultation (both P-values<0.05), while increased area-level deprivation and not receiving results from the GP were associated with lower satisfaction with receiving results (both P-values<0.05). Interviews with respondents (n=20) helped explain the quantitative results. They revealed that “not knowing the purpose of the test” caused “anxiety” and “confusion”, which led to dissatisfaction. “Not receiving results from GP” was considered “unacceptable”, as this left patients with a “niggling doubt” and lack of diagnosis, or assurance that they did not have cancer. Conclusion: Patient satisfaction with symptomatic FIT is high. Efforts to improve satisfaction should focus on ensuring patients understand the purpose of the test and always receive their test results.

Prolonging survival in good health is a fundamental societal goal. However, the leading determinants of disability-free survival in healthy older people have not been well established. Data from ASPREE, a bi-national placebo-controlled trial of aspirin with 4.7 years median follow-up, was analysed. At enrolment, participants were healthy and without prior cardiovascular events, dementia or persistent physical disability. Disability-free survival outcome was defined as absence of dementia, persistent disability or death. Selection of potential predictors from amongst 25 biomedical, psychosocial and lifestyle variables including recognized geriatric risk factors, utilizing a machine-learning approach. Separate models were developed for men and women. The selected predictors were evaluated in a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model and validated internally by bootstrapping. We included 19,114 Australian and US participants aged ≥65 years (median 74 years, IQR 71.6–77.7). Common predictors of a worse prognosis in both sexes included higher age, lower Modified Mini-Mental State Examination score, lower gait speed, lower grip strength and abnormal (low or elevated) body mass index. Additional risk factors for men included current smoking, and abnormal eGFR. In women, diabetes and depression were additional predictors. The biased-corrected areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the final prognostic models at 5 years were 0.72 for men and 0.75 for women. Final models showed good calibration between the observed and predicted risks. We developed a prediction model in which age, cognitive function and gait speed were the strongest predictors of disability-free survival in healthy older people.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov (NCT01038583)