Diagnostic Performance of a Fecal Immunochemical Test-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Program According to Ambient Temperature and Humidity.

Exposure of the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to different ambient temperatures and humidity is unavoidable in population-based screening programs in Southern European countries, and it could lead to a decrease in target colorectal lesions. The objective was to evaluate the effect of ambient temperature and humidity on the FIT sensitivity in a population-based screening program for colorectal cancer (CRC) using an ecological design. The retrospective cohort included individuals aged 50−69 years who participated in CRC screening (Barcelona) from 2010−2015, and were followed until 2017 to identify interval CRCs.

Short-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a population-based screening program for colorectal cancer in Catalonia (Spain).

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the suspension at all levels of the Catalan FIT-based CRC screening program on March 12, 2020. Screening invitations to FIT were resumed on September 1, 2020. We aimed to assess the short-term impact of the pandemic and describe strategies implemented to minimize harm by the disruption of the FIT-based CRC screening in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona.

Positive impact of a faecal-based screening programme on colorectal cancer mortality risk.

Introduction: The effectiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs is directly related to participation and the number of interval CRCs. The objective was to analyse specific-mortality in a cohort of individuals invited to a CRC screening program according to type of CRC diagnosis (screen-detected cancers, interval cancers, and cancers among the non-uptake group).

Material And Methods: Retrospective cohort that included invitees aged 50-69 years of a CRC screening program (target population of 85,000 people) in Catalonia (Spain) from 2000-2015 with mortality follow-up until 2020.

Text messaging as a tool to improve cancer screening programs (M-TICS Study): A randomized controlled trial protocol.

Background: Short message service (SMS) based interventions are widely used in healthcare and have shown promising results to improve cancer screening programs. However, more research is still needed to implement SMS in the screening process. We present a study protocol to assess the impact on health and economics of three targeted SMS-based interventions in population-based cancer screening programs.

Role of community pharmacies in a population-based colorectal cancer screening program.

In Catalonia (Spain), population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening offers biennial fecal occult blood testing to men and women aged 50-69 years old. The program is organized in screening hubs, most of which use a pharmacy-based model to distribute and collect fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits The comprehensive evaluation of CRC screening programs, which include the role and implications of pharmacy involvement, is essential to ensure program quality and identify areas for further improvement. The present study aimed to assess the adherence of community pharmacies to the CRC screening program and to analyze data on FIT kit distribution and collection in the Metropolitan area of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain).

Proton-pump inhibitors are associated with a high false-positivity rate in faecal immunochemical testing.

Background: False-positivity rates in faecal immunochemical test (FIT) can be affected by drug exposure. We aimed to assess the association between proton pump inhibitors (PPI) consumption and false positive (FP) results in a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme using electronic prescription records.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study within a population-based screening program for CRC from 2010 to 2016 was performed.

False-Positive Results in a Population-Based Colorectal Screening Program: Cumulative Risk from 2000 to 2017 with Biennial Screening.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the cumulative risk of a false-positive (FP) result in a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) through 7 screening rounds and to identify its associated factors in a population-based colorectal cancer screening program.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study, which included participants ages 50 to 69 years of a colorectal cancer screening program in Catalonia, Spain. During this period, 2 FOBTs were used (guaiac and immunochemical).

Longitudinal Adherence to Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Testing vs Guaiac-based FOBT in an Organized Colorectal Cancer Screening Program.

Longitudinal adherence is a critical component of the efficacy of stool-based screening programs because they should be repeated every 1-2 years. Few data have been published on the uptake in multiple rounds of fecal occult blood test-based (FOBT) colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. We calculated two measures of longitudinal adherence to biennial FOBT (guaiac fecal occult blood test:gFOBT or fecal immunochemical test:FIT) to better understand its impact on the programmatic effectiveness of a population-based CRC screening program (2000-2017).

Incidence of advanced neoplasia during surveillance in high- and intermediate-risk groups of the European colorectal cancer screening guidelines.

The European guidelines for quality assurance in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening have established high-risk (≥ 5 adenomas or an adenoma ≥ 20 mm) and intermediate-risk (3 - 4 adenomas or at least one adenoma 10 - 19 mm in size, or villous histology, or high grade dysplasia) groups with different endoscopic surveillance intervals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in the incidence of advanced neoplasia (advanced adenoma or CRC) between the two risk groups. This retrospective group study included patients meeting high- or intermediate-risk criteria for adenomas detected in CRC screening programs and the COLONPREV study before European guidelines were adopted in Spain (June 2011) with a 3-year surveillance recommendation according to Spanish guidelines.

False-negative rate cannot be reduced by lowering the haemoglobin concentration cut-off in colorectal cancer screening using faecal immunochemical test.

The aim of this study was to analyse false-negative (FN) results of the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) and its determinants in a colorectal cancer screening programme in Catalonia. We carried out a cross-sectional study among 218 screenees with a negative FIT result who agreed to undergo a colonoscopy. A false-negative result was defined as the detection, at colonoscopy, of intermediate/high-risk polyps or colorectal cancer in a patient with a previous negative FIT (<20 µgHb/g).

Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme in Spain: Results of Key Performance Indicators After Five Rounds (2000-2012).

Effective quality assurance is essential in any screening programme. This article provides a unique insight into key quality indicators of five rounds of the first population-based colorectal cancer screening programme implemented in Spain (2000-2012), providing the results according to the type of screening (prevalent or first screen and incident or subsequent screen) and test (guaiac or immunochemical). The total crude participation rate increased from 17.

[Interval cancers and episode sensitivity in population-based screening programmes for colorectal cancer: a systematic review].

Objective: To describe interval cancers (IC) and the sensitivity of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programmes.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted through a MEDLINE (PubMed) search. The search strategy combined the terms 'interval cancer', 'false negative', 'mass screening', 'screening' 'early detection of cancer', 'colorectal cancer' and 'bowel cancer'.

Fecal hemoglobin concentration as a measure of risk to tailor colorectal cancer screening: are we there yet?

The aim of this paper was to examine the distribution of fecal hemoglobin (f-Hb) concentration in a Spanish colorectal cancer screening population according to sociodemographic characteristics and analyze whether f-Hb was associated with clinical outcomes (type of lesion and its location). From September 2009 to November 2012, we sent 77,744 invitations to individuals aged 50-69 years to provide one sample of feces. f-Hb was measured on samples from 27,606 screenees (35.

Defining the role of the nurse in population-based cancer screening programs.

Nurses are pivotal in cancer prevention and early detection, but the nurse's role in cancer screening programs has been described only in very general terms without specification of activities needed to develop the role. To identify the set of activities that compose the role of the cancer screening nurse, the authors of the current article performed a critical descriptive literature review to document nursing involvement in cancer screening, covering articles published from 2000-2012. A total of 726 potentially relevant studies were identified, and 22 of those were included in the review.

Colonoscopy quality assessment in a mass population screening programme based on faecal occult blood test.

Background And Aim: the success of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programmes largely depends on the quality of the events, processes and outcomes and therefore, quality assurance of endoscopy is an essential component. The quality indicators for colonoscopy in a screening programme setting are different from those performed in symptomatic people. The objective of this study was to report the main quality indicators of colonoscopies performed after a positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT) in a CRC screening programme in Catalonia.

False-positive results from colorectal cancer screening in Catalonia (Spain), 2000-2010.

Objective: To identify factors associated with a false-positive result in a population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme with the faecal occult blood test (FOBT) in Catalonia between 2000 and 2010.

Methods: The study population consisted of participants of the Catalan CRC screening programme with a positive FOBT who underwent a colonoscopy for diagnostic confirmation from 2000 to 2010. A false-positive result was defined as having a positive test but detecting no high-risk adenoma or cancer in the follow-up colonoscopy.

[Adherence to a population-based colorectal cancer screening program in Catalonia (Spain), 2000-2008].

Objective: To analyze correlates of adherence to colorectal cancer screening with biennial fecal occult blood testing in asymptomatic individuals aged 50 to 69 years.

Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted among people (n = 1,193) invited to participate in at least two successive rounds of a population-based colorectal cancer screening program in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona, Spain). Subjects were classified according to their adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines (non-adherent, irregular adherent and totally adherent).

Repeated screening for colorectal cancer with fecal occult blood test in Catalonia, Spain.

The objective of this study was to explore the variables associated with repeated screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) among individuals aged 50-69 years in Catalonia, Spain. We selected for the study all individuals (n=11 969) screened by a population-based CRC screening program in 2004 and who were eligible for rescreening in two years. A multilevel logistic regression model was derived.