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Haemoccult screening for colorectal cancer: the effect of dietary restriction on compliance
M H Robinson1, G Pye, W M Thomas
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
Insights
Dietary restrictions negatively impact adherence to Haemoccult screening for colorectal cancer. Simplifying the screening process by removing food restrictions significantly improves patient compliance.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Preventive Medicine
- Oncology
Background:
- Colorectal cancer screening is crucial for early detection and improved patient outcomes.
- Haemoccult screening is a common method, but compliance can be a challenge.
- Dietary restrictions are sometimes recommended during Haemoccult testing, potentially affecting participation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of dietary restrictions on patient compliance with Haemoccult screening for colorectal cancer.
- To compare compliance rates between individuals asked to follow dietary restrictions and those who were not.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 153 participants undergoing Haemoccult screening.
- Participants were assigned to either a group with dietary restrictions or a group without.
- Compliance was measured by the return rate of completed Haemoccult tests.
Main Results:
- Overall compliance was 72.8% for participants without dietary restrictions, compared to 51.8% for those with restrictions.
- A statistically significant difference in compliance was observed (chi 2 = 7.45, P < 0.01).
- The study did not find a significant difference in compliance based on the testing duration (3 vs. 6 days) due to sample size limitations.
Conclusions:
- Imposing dietary restrictions during Haemoccult screening adversely affects patient compliance in a British population.
- Simplifying screening protocols by removing dietary restrictions may enhance participation rates for colorectal cancer screening.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dietary restrictions on compliance with Haemoccult screening for colorectal carcinoma. One-hundred-and-fifty-three individuals were randomly allocated to perform Haemoccult tests with or without dietary restrictions, over 3 or 6 days. Those who failed to return completed tests within 6 weeks were sent a reminder letter. A small but significant improvement in compliance when testing over a 3-day period has been previously demonstrated but this difference was not seen in this study because of the small sample size. Overall, 72.8% compliance was achieved in those who were not asked to exclude certain foods during the test period compared with 51.8% in those in whom dietary restriction was requested (chi 2 = 7.45, P < 0.01). In a British population compliance with Haemoccult screening is adversely affected by the imposition of dietary restrictions.