Analysis of participant satisfaction in the Barcelona colorectal cancer screening programme: Positive evaluation of the community pharmacy.
OBJECTIVE
Population-based bowel screening programmes with faecal occult blood (FOB) tests need to achieve high uptake rates and offer quality services. We invited participants in the Barcelona Programme to complete a satisfaction survey, in order to explore factors influencing uptake and respondents' opinion and satisfaction with each step of the screening process.


METHODS
Telephone survey using an ad hoc questionnaire (see annex) administered to a final sample of 1189 people: 310 non-participants in the programme (NoP), 553 participants with a negative test result (PNeg), and 326 participants with a positive result (PPos).


RESULTS
High scores were obtained for the clarity of the information provided by the programme (mean 8.9 on a scale 0-10), and for the accessibility and attention at the pharmacy as well as its role as the point for collection and return of FOB test cards (mean >9.3). Aspects that were not so highly rated were: preparation for the colonoscopy (41.6% reported quite a lot or a lot of discomfort), and to a lesser extent telephone accessibility (27.1% reported some difficulties). Participants also expressed concern about receiving a positive test result by telephone (78.9% reported some concern).


CONCLUSIONS
Respondents' opinion of the programme was positive overall, and supports the pharmacy as the point for distributing and collecting FOB test cards, as well as the role of the pharmacist in the context of the programme. Some aspects of the screening process will be reviewed in order to improve participant satisfaction and eventually increase uptake.
Servicio de Epidemiología y Evaluación, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España; Instituto Hospital del Mar de Investigaciones Médicas (IMIM), Barcelona, España; Red de investigación en servicios de salud en enfermedades crónicas (REDISSEC), España. Electronic address: aburon@hospitaldelmar.cat.
Andrea
A
Burón
Servicio de Epidemiología y Evaluación, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España.
Margarita
M
Posso
Servicio de Epidemiología y Evaluación, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España.
Judit
J
Sivilla
Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Epidemiología, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
Jaume
J
Grau
Direcció de Projectes i Recerca. Consell de Col·legis Farmacèutics de Catalunya, Barcelona, España.
Rafael
R
Guayta
Servicio de Epidemiología y Evaluación, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España; Instituto Hospital del Mar de Investigaciones Médicas (IMIM), Barcelona, España; Red de investigación en servicios de salud en enfermedades crónicas (REDISSEC), España.
Xavier
X
Castells
Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
Antoni
A
Castells
Servicio de Epidemiología y Evaluación, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España; Instituto Hospital del Mar de Investigaciones Médicas (IMIM), Barcelona, España; Red de investigación en servicios de salud en enfermedades crónicas (REDISSEC), España.
Francesc
F
Macià
D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Colorectal cancer; Community pharmacy; Cribado; Cáncer colorrectal; Detección precoz; Early detection; Farmacia comunitaria; Satisfacción; Satisfaction; Screening