Extrait

Background and study aims: Colorectal (bowel) cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the UK, and costs the National Health Service (NHS) more than £300 million a year in treatment costs. Patient survival could be increased and, costs very much reduced, if patients with bowel cancer received their diagnosis earlier, allowing treatment to begin earlier. The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (NHSBCSP) was introduced in England in 2006, and aims to screen men and women aged between 60 to 74 years of age for bowel cancer every two years using the faecal occult blood test (FOBt). Initial studies have shown that bowel screening is effective, but the number of patients who participate in screening have been quite low, with only around half of all the people who are invited to participate returning their FOBt kit. The success of the NHSBCSP relies on a high number of patients participating, and the development of new ways to improve the number participating after they are invited to participate. The main aim of the study is to assess how effective a GP reminder and additional FOBt kit are on increasing the number who participate in bowel cancer screening, when they have not participated following a previous invitation. Who can participate? All adults eligible for bowel screening (aged between 60 to 74 years old). These were patients at a participating general practice in the West Midlands, where the screening rate is less than 50%. These patients had been invited to participate in bowel screening but had not returned their FOBt within 13 weeks of initial invitation by the Midlands and North West Bowel Cancer Screening Hub. What does the study involve? We will randomly allocate the participants to one of two groups: 1. GP reminder to participate in bowel screening and additional FOBt kit, OR 2. No additional contact We compared how may people participated in bowel screening after 13 weeks. This was measured by the number of FOBt kits that were returned to the bowel screening hub by patients in each group. This allowed us to assess if the GP reminder to participate in bowel screening and additional FOBt kit was successful in increasing the participation in bowel screening. A small interview was carried out with some patients who received the GP reminder who returned a FOBt kit. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? There were no direct benefits to the patients who participated, but their participation will allow us to better understand why a person decides to take part in bowel screening, and what may put some people off participating. The findings will be used to help to identify ways to improve the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, so that future patients can benefit from a more effective screening service. There are no known risks associated with participating in this study. Where is the study run from? From the Department of Primary Care Clinical Sciences, at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the Department of Primary Healthcare at University of Oxford, and the Midlands and North West Bowel Cancer Screening Hub. When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? The study began in October 2011 and recruitment continued for approximately six months. The study ended in September 2012. Who is funding the study? National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) - School for Primary Care Research Who is the main contact? Mrs Sue Clifford [email protected]

Critère d'inclusion

• bowel cancer

Liens

• ictrp
• isrctn