Lack of knowledge, decision-making difficulties among factors identified with non-follow-up<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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FRIDAY, Dec. 2, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Lack of knowledge and decision-making difficulties are associated with non-follow-up to positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results, according to a study published in the November\/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Lucinda S. Bertels, Ph.D., from the University of Amsterdam, and colleagues surveyed 2,225 participants in the Dutch CRC screening program who received a positive FIT to understand factors associated with non-follow-up.<\/p>\n The researchers found that one-third of respondents reported no colonoscopy, with more than half (55 percent) reporting a contraindication. Non-follow-up was associated with decisional difficulties (odds ratio [OR], 0.29), lacking the opportunity to discuss the FIT outcome (OR, 0.45), and a low estimated risk for colorectal cancer (CRC; OR, 0.45). Having an alternative explanation for the positive FIT (OR, 0.3), having trust in the ability to self-detect CRC (OR, 0.42), and thinking that polyp removal is ineffective (OR, 0.59) were also negatively associated with follow-up. The strongest factor associated with follow-up was the belief that the family physician would support colonoscopy (OR, 2.84).<\/p>\n “Improving knowledge levels and offering personal guidance, possibly in the form of personalized screening counseling, as well as the involvement of family physicians, might prove beneficial for some FIT-positive individuals,” the authors write.<\/p>\n