Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26766733›Full record

ArticleBritish journal of cancer2016

Factors associated with completion of bowel cancer screening and the potential effects of simplifying the screening test algorithm.

Benjamin Kearns, Sophie Whyte, Helen E Seaman, Julia Snowball, Stephen P Halloran, Piers Butler, Julietta Patnick, Claire Nickerson, Jim Chilcott

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in British journal of cancer, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Benjamin KearnsSchool of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.
Sophie WhyteSchool of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.
Helen E SeamanNHS Bowel Cancer Screening Southern Programme Hub, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YS, UK.
Julia SnowballNHS Bowel Cancer Screening Southern Programme Hub, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YS, UK.
Stephen P HalloranNHS Bowel Cancer Screening Southern Programme Hub, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YS, UK.
Piers ButlerNHS Bowel Cancer Screening Southern Programme Hub, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YS, UK.
Julietta PatnickPublic Health England, Sheffield, S10 3TH, UK.
Claire NickersonPublic Health England, Sheffield, S10 3TH, UK.
Jim ChilcottSchool of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe primary colorectal cancer screening test in England is a guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBt). The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) interprets tests on six samples on up to three test kits to determine a definitive positive or negative result. However, the test algorithm fails to achieve a definitive result for a significant number of participants because they do not comply with the programme requirements. This study identifies factors associated with failed compliance and modifications to the screening algorithm that will improve the clinical effectiveness of the screening programme.

methodsThe BCSP Southern Hub data for screening episodes started in 2006-2012 were analysed for participants aged 60-69 years. The variables included age, sex, level of deprivation, gFOBt results and clinical outcome.

resultsThe data set included 1,409,335 screening episodes; 95.08% of participants had a definitively normal result on kit 1 (no positive spots). Among participants asked to complete a second or third gFOBt, 5.10% and 4.65%, respectively, failed to return a valid kit. Among participants referred for follow up, 13.80% did not comply. Older age was associated with compliance at repeat testing, but non-compliance at follow up. Increasing levels of deprivation were associated with non-compliance at repeat testing and follow up. Modelling a reduction in the threshold for immediate referral led to a small increase in completion of the screening pathway.

conclusionsReducing the number of positive spots required on the first gFOBt kit for referral for follow-up and targeted measures to improve compliance with follow-up may improve completion of the screening pathway.

Indexed as

AlgorithmsOccult BloodAgedAge FactorsColonoscopyColorectal NeoplasmsEarly Detection of CancerEnglandFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient ComplianceReferral and ConsultationSex FactorsSocial Class

Identifiers

PMID26766733
PMCPMC4742589

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.