Colorectal cancer screening: optimal compliance with postal faecal occult blood test

Five approaches to postal faecal occult blood test (FOBT) were compared in a population sample of 966 subjects collected from three general practitioner patient lists in Southern Sydney. The highest compliance rate (59.8%) was achieved by a method using a general practitioner letter, with no dietary restrictions with FOBT. This was also the least expensive method. Compliance rates can be affected by incorrect address information and screenees not considering themselves to be current patients. An explanation from the family doctor addressed personally to the patient with an enclosed FOBT kit can achieve high compliance rates.