Colorectal Cancer Screening: Optimal Compliance With Postal Faecal Occult Blood Test

Abstract

Five approaches to postal faecal occult blood test (FOBT) were compared in a population sample of 966 subjects collected from three general practitioner patient lists in Southern Sydney. The highest compliance rate (59.8%) was achieved by a method using a general practitioner letter, with no dietary restrictions with FOBT. This was also the least expensive method. Compliance rates can be affected by incorrect address information and screenees not considering themselves to be current patients. An explanation from the family doctor addressed personally to the patient with an enclosed FOBT kit can achieve high compliance rates.

The view from two sides: a qualitative study of community and medical perspectives on screening for colorectal cancer using FOBT

“…Participants found the distribution of the kits acceptable [29], the FOBT reasonably easy to complete, and doctors reported few contacts that were solely devoted to screening issues. As has been found previously, the use of a letter from the person's GP was well received and enhanced compliance [30].…”

An advance notification letter increases participation in colorectal cancer screening

“…[14][15][16][17] However, those studies failed to show a consistent increase in participation, perhaps because advance notification letters were accompanied by educational material or the effect was masked by other barriers to participation associated with guaiac FOBTs. Using an advance notification letter with low information burden, coupled with removal of diet and medication barriers through the use of immunochemical tests, may allow the positive effect of advance notification to become evident.…”

“…[13][14][15][16][17] While most studies showed that this was associated with increased uptake, it was often administered together with educational materials and so the effect alone is unclear. Advance notification has never been trialled in programmes using faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) where several barriers to participation are reduced.…”

Influences on participation in a community‐based colorectal neoplasia screening program by virtual colonoscopy in Australia

“…It also represents the first such data internationally for a program that is based on VC. The adjusted overall participation rate in our program of 28.4% should be placed in context with Australian or French community-based screening programs of similar design using faecal occult blood testing (23-34% participation) 10,11 or flexible sigmoidoscopy (23%). 12 None of these studies had general practitioner involvement in recruitment and none had the publicity campaigns of mammography or cervical screening, which in Australia are accompanied by participation rates of 54% and 64% in the target age ranges 50-69 and 20-69 years respectively.…”