scholarly journals Barriers and facilitators for colorectal cancer screening in a low-income urban community in Mexico City

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Unger-Saldaña ◽  
Minerva Saldaña-Tellez ◽  
Michael B. Potter ◽  
Katherine Van Loon ◽  
Betania Allen-Leigh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality are increasing in many middle- and lower-income countries, possibly due to a combination of changing lifestyles and improved healthcare infrastructure that facilitates diagnosis. Unfortunately, a large proportion of cases may be diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in poor outcomes. Decreasing trends in higher income countries are likely due to improved early detection combined with best practices in CRC treatment and management. More data on implementation of better quality CRC screening programs are needed for contexts where incidence is increasing. Therefore, we sought to identify potential barriers and facilitators for future implementation of fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based CRC screening in a public healthcare system in a middle-income country with increasing CRC incidence and mortality. Methods. Qualitative study including semi-structured individual and focus group interviews with different stakeholders of colorectal cancer screening: 30 average-risk lay people, 13 health care personnel from a local public clinic, and 7 endoscopy unit personnel from a cancer referral hospital. All interviews were transcribed verbatim for analysis. Data was analyzed using the constant comparison method, under the theoretical perspectives of the Social Ecological Model (SEM), the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model, and the Health Belief Model. Results. We found multiple barriers and facilitators for implementation of a FIT-based CRC screening program at different levels of the SEM. The main barriers in each of the SEM levels, were: 1) at the social context level: poverty, health literacy and lay beliefs related to gender, cancer, allopathic medicine, and religion; 2) at the health services organization level: the lack of CRC knowledge among health care personnel and the community perception of poor quality of health care; 3) at the individual level: a lack of CRC awareness and therefore lack of risk perception, together with fear of participating in screening activities and finding out about a serious disease. The main facilitators perceived by the participants were CRC screening information and the free provision of screening tests.Conclusions. This study’s findings suggest the need for a multi-level CRC screening program that includes complementary strategies aimed at reducing perceived barriers and enhancing facilitators, starting with: 1) free provision of screening tests, 2) education of primary health care personnel, and 3) promotion of non fear-based CRC screening awareness among the target population, taking into account their lay beliefs.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Unger-Saldaña ◽  
Minerva Saldaña-Tellez ◽  
Michael B. Potter ◽  
Katherine Van Loon ◽  
Betania Allen-Leigh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality are increasing in many middle- and lower-income countries, possibly due to a combination of changing lifestyles and improved healthcare infrastructure that facilitates diagnosis. Unfortunately, a large proportion of cases may be diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in poor outcomes. Decreasing trends in higher income countries are likely due to improved early detection combined with best practices in CRC treatment and management. More data on implementation of better quality CRC screening programs are needed for contexts where incidence is increasing. Therefore, we sought to identify potential barriers and facilitators for future implementation of fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based CRC screening in a public healthcare system in a middle-income country with increasing CRC incidence and mortality.Methods. Qualitative study including semi-structured individual and focus group interviews with different stakeholders of colorectal cancer screening: 30 average-risk lay people, 13 health care personnel from a local public clinic, and 7 endoscopy unit personnel from a cancer referral hospital. All interviews were transcribed verbatim for analysis. Data was analyzed using the constant comparison method, under the theoretical perspectives of the Social Ecological Model (SEM), the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model, and the Health Belief Model. Results. We found multiple barriers and facilitators for implementation of a FIT-based CRC screening program at different levels of the SEM. The main barriers in each of the SEM levels, were: 1) at the social context level: poverty, health literacy and lay beliefs related to gender, cancer, allopathic medicine, and religion; 2) at the health services organization level: the lack of CRC knowledge among health care personnel and the community perception of poor quality of health care; 3) at the individual level: a lack of CRC awareness and therefore lack of risk perception, together with fear of participating in screening activities and finding out about a serious disease. The main facilitators perceived by the participants were CRC screening information and the free provision of screening tests.Conclusions. This study’s findings suggest the need for a multi-level CRC screening program that includes complementary strategies aimed at reducing perceived barriers and enhancing facilitators, starting with: 1) free provision of screening tests, 2) education of primary health care personnel, and 3) promotion of non fear-based CRC screening awareness among the target population, taking into account their lay beliefs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Unger-Saldaña ◽  
Minerva Saldaña-Tellez ◽  
Michael B. Potter ◽  
Katherine Van Loon ◽  
Betania Allen-Leigh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality are increasing in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), possibly due to a combination of changing lifestyles and improved healthcare infrastructure to facilitate diagnosis. Unfortunately, a large proportion of CRC cases in these countries remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed at advanced stages, resulting in poor outcomes. Decreasing mortality trends in HICs are likely due to evidence-based screening and treatment approaches that are not widely available in LMICs. Formative research to identify emerging opportunities to implement appropriate screening and treatment programs in LMICs is, therefore, of growing importance. We sought to identify potential barriers and facilitators for future implementation of fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based CRC screening in a public healthcare system in a middle-income country with increasing CRC incidence and mortality. Methods. We performed a qualitative study with semi-structured individual and focus group interviews with different CRC screening stakeholders, including: 30 lay people at average risk for CRC; 13 health care personnel from a local public clinic; and 7 endoscopy personnel from a cancer referral hospital. All interviews were transcribed verbatim for analysis. Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method, under the theoretical perspectives of the Social Ecological Model (SEM), the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model, and the Health Belief Model. Results. We identified barriers and facilitators for implementation of a FIT-based CRC screening program at several levels of the SEM. The main barriers in each of the SEM levels, were: 1) at the social context level: poverty, health literacy and lay beliefs related to gender, cancer, allopathic medicine, and religion; 2) at the health services organization level: a lack of CRC knowledge among health care personnel and the community perception of poor quality of health care; 3) at the individual level: a lack of CRC awareness and therefore lack of risk perception, together with fear of participating in screening activities and finding out about a serious disease. The main facilitators perceived by the participants were CRC screening information and the free provision of screening tests.Conclusions. This study’s findings suggest that multi-level CRC screening programs in middle income countries such as Mexico should incorporate complementary strategies to address barriers and facilitators, such as: 1) provision of free screening tests, 2) education of primary healthcare personnel, and 3) promotion of non fear-based CRC screening messages to the target population, tailored to address common lay beliefs.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1129
Author(s):  
Audrius Dulskas ◽  
Tomas Poskus ◽  
Inga Kildusiene ◽  
Ausvydas Patasius ◽  
Rokas Stulpinas ◽  
...  

We aimed to report the results of the implementation of the National Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Program covering all the country. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) reimburses the institutions for performing each service; each procedure within the program has its own administrative code. Information about services provided within the program was retrieved from the database of NHIF starting from the 1 January 2014 to the 31 December 2018. Exact date and type of all provided services, test results, date and results of biopsy and histopathological examination were extracted together with the vital status at the end of follow-up, date of death and date of emigration when applicable for all men and women born between 1935 and 1968. Results were compared with the guidelines of the European Union for quality assurance in CRC screening and diagnosis. The screening uptake was 49.5% (754,061 patients) during study period. Participation rate varied from 16% to 18.1% per year and was higher among women than among men. Proportion of test-positive and test-negative results was similar during all the study period—8.7% and 91.3% annually. Between 9.2% and 13.5% of test-positive patients received a biopsy of which 52.3–61.8% were positive for colorectal adenoma and 4.6–7.3% for colorectal carcinoma. CRC detection rate among test-positive individuals varied between 0.93% and 1.28%. The colorectal cancer screening program in Lithuania coverage must be improved. A screening database is needed to systematically evaluate the impact and performance of the national CRC screening program and quality assurance within the program.


2021 ◽  
pp. 096914132199748
Author(s):  
Andrew Wang ◽  
Briton Lee ◽  
Shreya Patel ◽  
Evans Whitaker ◽  
Rachel B Issaka ◽  
...  

Objective Digital health care offers an opportunity to scale and personalize cancer screening programs, such as mailed outreach for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. However, studies that describe the patient selection strategy and process for CRC screening are limited. Our objective was to evaluate implementation strategies for selecting patients for CRC screening programs in large health care systems. Methods We conducted a systematic review of 30 studies along with key informant surveys and interviews to describe programmatic implementation strategies for selecting patients for CRC screening. PubMed and Embase were searched since inception through December 2018, and hand searches were performed of the retrieved reference lists but none were incorporated ( n = 0). No language exclusions were applied. Results Common criteria for outreach exclusion included: being up-to-date with routine CRC screening ( n = 22), comorbidities ( n = 20), and personal history ( n = 22) or family history of cancer ( n = 9). Key informant surveys and interviews were performed ( n = 28) to understand data sources and practices for patient outreach selection, and found that 13 studies leveraged electronic medical care records, 10 studies leveraged a population registry (national, municipal, community, health), 4 studies required patient opt-in, and 1 study required primary care provider referral. Broad ranges in fecal immunochemical test completion were observed in community clinic ( n = 8, 31.0–59.6%), integrated health system ( n = 5, 21.2–82.7%), and national regional CRC screening programs ( n = 17, 23.0–64.7%). Six studies used technical codes, and four studies required patient self-reporting from a questionnaire to participate. Conclusion This systematic review provides health systems with the diverse outreach practices and technical tools to support efforts to automate patient selection for CRC screening outreach.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa L. Byrd ◽  
Jessica Calderón-Mora ◽  
Rebekah Salaiz ◽  
Navkiran K. Shokar

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cancer cause of death among US Hispanics. CRC screening among the Hispanic population is lower compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Method: The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory study was to better understand the barriers and facilitators of CRC screening and preference for stool-based testing collection methods among the predominantly Hispanic population of El Paso, Texas. Nine focus groups were conducted by a trained bilingual facilitator with a moderator guide informed by the literature. Transcripts of the focus groups were entered into qualitative analysis software and a thematic network was developed. Results: Fifty-six participants were recruited: average age was 68.5 years, 58.9% were female, 98.2% were Hispanic, 87.5% had an annual income of less than $20,000, 58.9% had 9th grade education or less, 12.5% had a discount program, and 5.4% had no insurance. Barriers to CRC screening included cost, fear, and embarrassment. Facilitators to screening included in-person health education and physician recommendation. Participants preferred the hygienic nature of a stool test collected with a brush and bottle. Conclusion: Overall, there was a lack of knowledge regarding CRC and significant barriers to CRC screening. A community-based CRC screening program was subsequently developed from our findings.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ane Sørlie Kværner ◽  
Einar Birkeland ◽  
Cecilie Bucher-Johannessen ◽  
Elina Vinberg ◽  
Jan Inge Nordby ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening reduces CRC incidence and mortality. However, current screening methods are either hampered by invasiveness or suboptimal performance, limiting their effectiveness as primary screening methods. To aid in the development of a non-invasive screening test with improved sensitivity and specificity, we have initiated a prospective biomarker study (CRCbiome), nested within a large randomized CRC screening trial in Norway. We aim to develop a microbiome-based classification algorithm to identify advanced colorectal lesions in screening participants testing positive for an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FIT). We will also examine interactions with host factors, diet, lifestyle and prescription drugs. The prospective nature of the study also enables the analysis of changes in the gut microbiome following the removal of precancerous lesions. Methods The CRCbiome study recruits participants enrolled in the Bowel Cancer Screening in Norway (BCSN) study, a randomized trial initiated in 2012 comparing once-only sigmoidoscopy to repeated biennial FIT, where women and men aged 50–74 years at study entry are invited to participate. Since 2017, participants randomized to FIT screening with a positive test result have been invited to join the CRCbiome study. Self-reported diet, lifestyle and demographic data are collected prior to colonoscopy after the positive FIT-test (baseline). Screening data, including colonoscopy findings are obtained from the BCSN database. Fecal samples for gut microbiome analyses are collected both before and 2 and 12 months after colonoscopy. Samples are analyzed using metagenome sequencing, with taxonomy profiles, and gene and pathway content as primary measures. CRCbiome data will also be linked to national registries to obtain information on prescription histories and cancer relevant outcomes occurring during the 10 year follow-up period. Discussion The CRCbiome study will increase our understanding of how the gut microbiome, in combination with lifestyle and environmental factors, influences the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. This knowledge will be crucial to develop microbiome-based screening tools for CRC. By evaluating biomarker performance in a screening setting, using samples from the target population, the generalizability of the findings to future screening cohorts is likely to be high. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01538550.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 46-46
Author(s):  
Karla Unger-Saldaña ◽  
Minerva Saldaña-Tellez ◽  
Anabelle Bonvecchio ◽  
Michael B. Potter ◽  
Martin Lajous

PURPOSE We undertook a formative qualitative research study to identify optimal participant recruitment, education, and follow-up strategies to facilitate colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in Mexico City. METHODS This study included semistructured individual and focus group interviews with different stakeholders: 36 average-risk laypeople, 16 public health care leaders, 10 primary care personnel, and 4 endoscopy unit personnel. The study protocol was approved by the National Institute of Public Health Institutional Review Board. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. We analyzed data using the constant comparison method under the theoretical perspectives of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Health Belief Model. Tailored CRC screening educational materials—video, postcard, poster, and brochure—were developed on the basis of our findings. Materials were then pretested in 6 additional focus groups and adjusted accordingly. RESULTS We found multiple barriers and facilitators in different dimensions of the CFIR for successful implementation of a FIT-based CRC screening program in this community. The main barriers were the following: inner context related: understaffing and personnel resistance to new programs; individual health care personnel related: CRC misinformation and work overload; outer setting related: underinvestment in primary care and public insecurity; lay individual related: a lack of CRC awareness, low risk perception, and fear of finding out about a serious disease; and intervention related: test costs. Among the principal facilitators were the following: inner setting: a shared perception of a good working environment and strong leadership at the selected clinic; intervention related: FIT test is perceived as easy to do, and potential users liked the idea that the sample can be obtained in the privacy of their homes. Educational materials we tailored on the basis of these findings and were found to be acceptable, understandable, and culturally competent by lay participants. CONCLUSION Our study allowed for the design of a feasible FIT-based CRC screening program and culturally competent materials that will be used to enhance participation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Ward ◽  
Sara Javanparast ◽  
Carlene Wilson

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) offers population-based screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) across Australia. The aims of this paper were to highlight the inequities in CRC screening in South Australia (SA) and the system-related barriers and enablers to CRC screening from the perspective of participants identified as having inequitable participation. First, de-identified data for the SA population of the NBCSP were statistically analysed and then mapped. Second, 117 in-depth interviews were conducted with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups, Indigenous and Anglo-Saxon Australians. Participation rates in the NBCSP were geographically and statistically significantly different (P < 0.0001) on the basis of gender (higher for women), age (higher for older people) and socioeconomic status (higher for more affluent people). The main system-related barriers were the lack of awareness of CRC or CRC screening within these groups, the problems with language due to most of the information being in English and the lack of recommendation by a doctor. This study revealed that inequity exists in the NBCSP participation in SA, and we identified both barriers and facilitators to CRC screening that require action at the level of both policy and practice. There is a large role in primary health care of both recommending CRC screening and facilitating equitable participation.


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