The role of area-level deprivation and gender in participation in population-based faecal immunochemical test (FIT) colorectal cancer screening.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of sex and deprivation on participation in a population-based faecal immunochemical test (FIT) colorectal cancer screening programme. The study population included 9785 individuals invited to participate in two rounds of a population-based biennial FIT-based screening programme, in a relatively deprived area of Dublin, Ireland. Explanatory variables included in the analysis were sex, deprivation category of area of residence and age (at end of screening).

Sustained participation, colonoscopy uptake and adenoma detection rates over two rounds of the Tallaght-Trinity College colorectal cancer screening programme with the faecal immunological test.

Background: Studies to date support the use of the faecal immunological test (FIT) in colorectal cancer screening programmes, and it has been widely adopted across Europe, Canada, Australia, and the USA. Successive screening rounds are necessary to detect and prevent colorectal cancer. The overall success of FIT screening will depend on several factors, the most important probably being the acceptability of repeated screening rounds.