title: Socio-geographical determinants of colonoscopy uptake after faecal occult blood test.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Survival from colorectal cancer is poorer in patients of lower socioeconomic level, or living far from the cancer reference centre.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of material deprivation and geographical remoteness on the uptake of colonoscopy after a positive screening faecal occult blood test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from two large French average-risk population-based trials comparing two faecal occult blood tests were used. Compliance with colonoscopy after a positive faecal occult blood test was analysed using a logistic model and a Cox model considering time between faecal occult blood test and colonoscopy. Covariates studied were sex, age, distance to nearest gastroenterologist, distance to regional capital, and Townsend's deprivation score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amongst 4320 eligible subjects, 4131 were included. The rate of colonoscopy was 83.8%, within a median time of 66.0 days after faecal occult blood test. Distance to regional capital (p-trend=0.02) and study centre (p<0.0001) were independently associated with colonoscopy uptake. Time from positive faecal occult blood test to colonoscopy, was associated only with distance to the regional capital (p<0.0001, multivariate model stratified on study centre).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geographical remoteness but not material deprivation was responsible for lower uptake of colonoscopy. Healthcare decision-makers should focus on geographical remoteness to promote equal access to diagnostic procedures in faecal occult blood test colorectal cancer screening programmes.
authors.affiliation: INSERM ERI3 Cancers & Populations, Faculté de Médecine, avenue de la Côte de Nacre, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dupont-Lucas
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dejardin
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dancourt
authors.forename: Ludivine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Launay
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Launoy
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guittet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors