A 9-year follow-up study of participants and nonparticipants in sigmoidoscopy screening: importance of self-selection.

Background: Self-selection may compromise cost-effectiveness of screening programs. We hypothesized that nonparticipants have generally higher morbidity and mortality than participants.

Methods: A Swedish population-based random sample of 1,986 subjects ages 59 to 61 years was invited to sigmoidoscopy screening and followed up for 9 years by means of multiple record linkages to health and population registers.

Toward understanding nonparticipation in sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer.

Understanding the reasons for nonparticipation in cancer screening may give clues about how to improve compliance. However, limited cooperation has hampered research on nonparticipant profiles. We took advantage of Sweden's comprehensive demographic and health care registers to investigate characteristics of all participants and nonparticipants in a pilot program for colorectal cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy.

Genetic counselling for cancer and risk perception.

The main aim was to investigate risk perception and psychological distress in individuals attending genetic counselling. A consecutive series of 86 individuals with a diagnosis and/or family history of breast, ovarian or colorectal cancer was included. Risk assessments were performed before and immediately after genetic counselling and at a one-year follow-up.