title: A qualitative evaluation of strategies to increase colorectal cancer screening uptake.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To obtain data that could be used to optimize the content and design of the targeted, mailed invitations that Ontario's provincewide colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program plans to use to increase screening uptake; to identify other strategies to increase CRC screening uptake; and to describe the effects of this qualitative work on a subsequent quantitative pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study using semistructured focus groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four different Ontario communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six focus groups comprising a total of 62 participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six focus groups were conducted in 4 different Ontario communities. For 3 of the communities, participants were recruited from the general population by a private marketing firm, using random-digit dialing, and received a small honorarium for participating. In Sault Ste Marie, participants were convenience samples recruited from a large primary care practice and were not offered compensation. Responses were elicited regarding various strategies for promoting CRC screening. Findings represent all responses observed as well as recommendations to program planners based on focus groups observations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key themes identified included the importance of receiving a CRC screening invitation from one's family physician; a desire for personalized, brief communications; and a preference for succinct information in mailed materials. Strong support was indicated for direct mailing of the CRC screening kit (fecal occult blood test). Our findings substantially influenced the final design and content of the envelope and letter to be mailed in the subsequent quantitative pilot study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report strong support from our focus groups for a succinct, personalized invitation for CRC screening from one's own family physician. We have also shown that qualitative evaluation can be used to provide decision makers with pertinent and timely knowledge. Our study is highly relevant to other public health programs, particularly other Canadian jurisdictions planning organized CRC screening programs.
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ont. jill.tinmouth@sunnybrook.ca
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tinmouth
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ritvo
authors.forename: S Elizabeth
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Claus
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasut
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Crissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guglietti
authors.forename: Lawrence F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Paszat
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hilsden
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rabeneck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D009864:Ontario; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012424:Rural Population; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic