Comparing different strategies for colorectal cancer screening in Italy: predictors of patients' participation.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to study predictors of patients' participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.


METHODS
Men and women, aged 55-64 years, were randomized to the following: (i) biennial fecal occult blood test (FOBT) delivered by mail (n=2,266); (ii) FOBT delivered by a general practitioner (GP)/screening facility (n=5,893); (iii) "once-only" sigmoidoscopy (FS) (n=3,650); (iv) FS followed by FOBT for screenees with negative FS (n=10,867); and (v) patient's choice between FS and FOBT (n=3,579). A stratified (by screening arm) random sample of attenders and nonattenders was contacted by trained interviewers 4 months after the initial invitation. Subjects giving their consent were administered a questionnaire (available online) investigating perceptions of individual CRC risk, attitudes toward prevention, adoption of health protective behaviors, and reasons for attendance/nonattendance. Adjusted prevalence odds ratios (ORs) were computed by multivariable logistic regression.


RESULTS
The response rate was 71.9% (701 of 975) among nonattenders and 88.9% (773 of 870) among attenders. Adjusting for screening arm, center, gender, age, and education, participation was significantly higher among people who consulted their GP before undergoing screening (OR: 4.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.11-5.78), who mentioned one first-degree relative with CRC (OR: 3.62; 95% CI: 2.02-6.49), who reported regular physical activity (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.33-2.55), and who read the mailed information (letter only: OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.23-2.78; letter+leaflet: OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 2.12-4.76). People who considered screening to be ineffective (OR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.08-0.19), those who considered it to be effective but reported even moderate levels of anxiety (OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.23-0.45), and those who mentioned previous knowledge of CRC screening tests were less likely to accept the invitation (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.34-0.70).


CONCLUSIONS
Adoption of health protective behaviors is associated with a higher attendance rate, whereas anxiety represents a strong barrier, even among people who deemed screening to be effective. Increasing the proportion of people who consult their GP when making a decision regarding screening might enhance participation.
Senore
Carlo
C
Centro Prevenzione Oncologica Regione Piemonte and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Giovanni Battista di Torino, Turin, Italy. carlo.senore@cpo.it
Armaroli
Paola
P
Silvani
Marco
M
Andreoni
Bruno
B
Bisanti
Luigi
L
Marai
Luisa
L
Castiglione
Guido
G
Grazzini
Grazia
G
Taddei
Serena
S
Gasperoni
Stefano
S
Giuliani
Orietta
O
Malfitana
Giuseppe
G
Marutti
Anna
A
Genta
Giovanna
G
Segnan
Nereo
N
D001294:Attitude to Health; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D010358:Patient Participation; D015995:Prevalence; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires