Socioeconomic variation in participation in colorectal cancer screening.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate socioeconomic variation in participation in flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) screening for colorectal cancer.


METHODS
A prospective study nested within a multicentre randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of FS screening for the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer (the UK flexible sigmoidoscopy trial).


METHODS
Glasgow, Scotland.


METHODS
55-64 year old adults, registered with general practitioners participating in the FS trial.


METHODS
Screening participation measured at three levels: questionnaire return; interest in screening; attendance at screening.


RESULTS
Socioeconomic deprivation was a strong predictor of participation. Return of the screening questionnaire, expression of interest in screening, and attendance at the test, were all lower in more deprived groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight the need to consider ways to reduce inequalities in screening uptake, in parallel with the introduction of any new screening programmes, to avoid exacerbating social gradients in cancer mortality.
McCaffery
K
K
Cancer Research UK, Health Behaviour Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK.
Wardle
J
J
Nadel
M
M
Atkin
W
W
D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires