Could stool collection devices help increase uptake to bowel cancer screening programmes? [poo-catchers for bowel cancer screening]

摘要

Objective \udWe aimed to understand the usage and acceptability of a faecal collection device (FCD) amongst participants of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in order to influence future uptake. \udSetting \udMen and women completing faecal occult blood test (FOBt) retests as part of the routine Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in Eastern England. \udMethods \udA FCD and questionnaire was sent to all potential retest participants during a 1 month period collecting information on prior stool collection methods and ease of use and usefulness of the enclosed FCD. \udResults \udOf 1087 invitations to participate, 679 (62.5%) participants returned their questionnaire. Of these 429 (63.2%) trialled the FCD at least once. 163 (38.4%) found the device made collecting their sample easier than previously, with 189 (44.6%) finding it made collection more difficult and 72 (17.0%) feeling it made no difference. Similar numbers reported finding that the FCD made collecting the sample more pleasant (130, 31.5%), less pleasant (103, 25.0%) and no different (179, 43.4%) compared to previous collection without a FCD. \udConclusion \udAlthough a small proportion of participants found the FCD helpful a considerable majority did not or did not use it at all. Offering FCDs is unlikely to produce a substantial increase in bowel cancer screening uptake.