To determine family physician perspectives regarding the acceptability and effectiveness of 2 interventions-a targeted, mailed invitation for screening to patients, and family physician audit-feedback reports-and on the colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program generally. This information will be used to guide program strategies for increasing screening uptake.
Qualitative study.
Ontario.
Family physicians (n = 65).
Seven 1-hour focus groups were conducted with family physicians using teleconferencing and Web-based technologies. Responses were elicited regarding family physicians' perspectives on the mailing of invitations to patients, the content and design of the audit-feedback reports, the effect of participation in the pilot project on daily practice, and overall CRC screening program function.
Key themes included strong support for both interventions and for the CRC screening program generally. Moderate support was found for direct mailing of fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) kits. Participants identified potential pitfalls if interventions were implemented outside of patient enrolment model practices. Participants expressed relatively strong support for colonoscopy as a CRC screening test but relatively weak support for FOBT.
Although the proposed interventions to increase the uptake of CRC screening were highly endorsed, concerns about their applicability to non-patient enrolment model practices and the current lack of physician support for FOBT will need to be addressed to optimize intervention and program effectiveness. Our study is highly relevant to other public health programs planning organized CRC screening programs.
Notes
Cites: N Engl J Med. 2000 Nov 30;343(22):1603-711096167
Cites: Lancet. 1996 Nov 30;348(9040):1467-718942774
Cites: Lancet. 1996 Nov 30;348(9040):1472-78942775
Cites: CA Cancer J Clin. 2008 May-Jun;58(3):130-6018322143
Cites: Ann Intern Med. 2008 Nov 4;149(9):638-5818838718
Cites: Can Fam Physician. 2011 Jan;57(1):e7-1521322288
Cites: Can Fam Physician. 2009 Jun;55(6):622-3.e1-419509209
Cites: Health Rep. 2009 Sep;20(3):21-3019813436
Cites: Lancet. 2010 May 8;375(9726):1624-3320430429
Cites: JAMA. 2010 Jul 28;304(4):461-220664047
Cites: Can J Gastroenterol. 2010 Dec;24(12):705-1421165377
Cites: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 Jun;18(6):1688-9419505900