title: ColonCancerCheck primary care invitation pilot project: patient perceptions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the perceptions of those who received invitations to the ColonCancerCheck Primary Care Invitation Pilot (the Pilot) about the mailed invitation, colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in general, and their specific screening experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study with 6 focus group sessions, each 1.5 hours in length.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hamilton, Ont; Ottawa, Ont; and Thunder Bay, Ont.
  
  
  METHODS
  Screening-eligible adults, aged 50 years and older, who received a Pilot invitation for CRC screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  The focus groups were conducted by a trained moderator and were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analyzed using grounded-theory techniques facilitated by the use of electronic software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key themes related to the invitation letter, the role of the family physician, direct mailing of the fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) kit, and alternate CRC screening promotion strategies were identified. Specifically, participants suggested the letter content should use stronger, more powerful language to capture the reader's attention. The importance of the family physician was endorsed, although participants favoured clarification of the physician and program roles in the actual mailed invitation. Participants expressed support for directly mailing FOBT kits to individuals, particularly those with successful previous test completion, and for communication of both negative and positive screening results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study yielded a number of important findings including strategies to optimize letter content, support for directly mailed FOBT kits, and strategies to report results that might be highly relevant to other health programs where population-based CRC screening is being considered.
authors: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Room HG40, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5. jill.tinmouth@sunnybrook.ca.
authors: Jill
authors: J
authors: Tinmouth
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Ritvo
authors: S Elizabeth
authors: SE
authors: McGregor
authors: Jigisha
authors: J
authors: Patel
authors: Crissa
authors: C
authors: Guglietti
authors: Cheryl A
authors: CA
authors: Levitt
authors: Lawrence F
authors: LF
authors: Paszat
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Rabeneck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D009864:Ontario; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010465:Perception; D010819:Physician's Role; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research