Cost evaluation in a colorectal cancer screening programme by faecal occult blood test in the District of Florence.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the direct costs of first and repeat colorectal cancer screening by immunochemical faecal occult blood testing (I-FOBT).


METHODS
Florence district residents aged 50-70 were invited to undergo one-time I-FOBT every two years. Full colonoscopy was recommended for FOBT-positive subjects. Direct cost analysis was carried out separately for the first and repeat screening. All relevant resources consumed by the programme were calculated.


RESULTS
Among 25,428 or 62,369 subjects invited to the first or repeat screening, respectively, the corresponding participation rate was 47.8% or 52.3%, and the positivity rate was 4.4% and 3.3%. Corresponding detection rates and positive predictive values for cancer and advanced adenoma were 11.3% or 8.9% and 32.4% or 32.8%, respectively. The assessment phase accounted for the major cost, as compared with recruitment and screening. All cost indicators were slightly higher in the first screening compared with repeat screening. Cost per cancer and advanced adenoma detected was similar in the first or repeat screening. A higher than observed participation rate would have substantially reduced screening cost.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of I-FOBT-organized population-based screening cost demonstrates lower cost at repeat compared with first screening and provides reference for decision-making in screening implementation.
Grazzini
Grazia
G
ISPO Cancer Prevention and Research Institute Florence, Istituto Tumori Toscano, Viale A. Volta 171, 50131 Firenze, Italy. g.grazzini@ispo.toscana.it
Ciatto
Stefano
S
Cislaghi
Cesare
C
Castiglione
Guido
G
Falcone
Manuele
M
Mantellini
Paola
P
Zappa
Marco
M
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics; D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests