Mailed fecal immunochemical testing completion rates among adults overdue for colorectal cancer screening improved after behavioral interventions, according to results of a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
One-third of U.S. adults are behind on CRC screening. Mailed fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) offers an at-home, convenient screening method for patients at average risk, but uptake remains low.
“There are a variety of barriers to completion of colorectal cancer screening,” Shivan J. Mehta, MD, MBA, MSHP, associate professor of medicine and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, told Healio. “Our prior qualitative research has shown that patients may not realize that they should still be screened even if they don’t have symptoms or they may intend to get screened but it may not be a high priority for them.”