Prevalence of FOB testing in eastern-Australian general practice patients: what has a national bowel cancer screening program delivered?
Christine L. Paul A B F , Mariko L. Carey A B , Grant Russell C , Cate D’Este B D , Rob W. Sanson-Fisher A B and Nicholas Zwar EA Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour (PRCHB), W4, HMRI Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
B Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), 1 Kookaburra Circuit, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2035, Australia.
C Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit (SAPCRU), Monash University, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, Vic. 3168, Australia.
D Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
E School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Samuels Avenue, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: chris.paul@newcastle.edu.au
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 26(1) 39-44 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE14058
Submitted: 27 June 2014 Accepted: 8 February 2015 Published: 30 March 2015
Abstract
Issues addressed: The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) was introduced in Australia in 2006, offering free immunochemical Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) to persons aged 50, 55 or 65. The study aimed to examine the prevalence of self-reported screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) using the FOBT and factors associated with not having an FOBT.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of Australian general practice patients aged 50 and over with no personal history of CRC completed a health risk survey while waiting for scheduled appointments between November 2010 and November 2011.
Results: A total of 5671 patients from 12 practices were approached to participate. Of the 4707 eligible patients (adults attending for care who understood English and were capable of providing informed consent), 4062 (86%) consented to participate, with 2269 eligible to complete the FOBT items. Approximately half (52%) of participants reported ever having an FOBT. More than one-third (39.7%) of the sample reported having an FOBT in the prior three years. Those who recalled receiving a mailed kit as part of the NBCSP were five times more likely to report being screened. Those less likely to report screening were aged 50–59 years, were female and had been diagnosed with a form of cancer other than CRC.
Conclusions: There is justification for the extension of the NBCSP to ensure a majority of the age-appropriate population is screened for CRC.
So what?: Further work is needed to identify whether high rates of screening are achievable using the mailed-kit approach, and how to increase participation by females, those aged 50–69 years and those diagnosed with other cancers.
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