Re-inviting people to participate in home-based bowel cancer screening could save more than 11,000 deaths from the disease, according to a new study out today.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield found that asking people every year until they returned the home test kit was the most cost-effective way to increase participation. They said this would lead to a predicted 13.6% more people returning their kit in the first year.
In England, everyone aged 60 to74 who is registered with a GP is automatically sent a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) every two years.
The programme is expanding, starting with those in the 56-58 years age group, and will extend to those aged 50 and over in the next four years.
The study, published today in *Preventative Medicine*, found as well as being more cost-effective, annual re-invitation could also help combat health inequalities.
This is because people from more deprived communities are less likely to complete the tests, which means they do not benefit from early diagnosis screening, thereby contributing to increased bowel cancer deaths among people who are more deprived.
Chloe Thomas, lead researcher from University of Sheffield, said: “There are many factors that lead to inequalities in bowel cancer mortality, including differences in underlying health conditions and access to treatment. Although screening is just a small part of the picture, it’s vital the programme works for everyone.
“We believe we’ve identified a cost-effective way to increase screening participation and reduce mortality across all groups, while also reducing inequalities. But this was based on modelling and real-world data is needed to confirm our conclusions. The next step would be to analyse data from a pilot to improve our predictions of long-term mortality benefits.”
Other interventions to increase participation included advertising campaigns, text message reminders and pre-invite outreach phone calls.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, added: “Screening is an effective way of catching cancer early and saving lives, but not everyone engages equally, and this contributes to health inequalities across the UK. This study shows that sending yearly test kits to those who don’t complete them could help close this gap and save lives.
“Addressing health disparities is critical to achieving the Government’s early diagnosis targets and saving lives. We urge Government to implement a re-invitation pilot as part of its upcoming 10-Year Cancer Plan. We need a cancer plan for all – and bold action, such as this, will benefit generations to come.”
The Government’s recent commitment to expand the bowel screening programme in England to 50- to 59-year-olds was welcomed by the charity, but it said without steps to increase participation among people in the most deprived communities, widening eligibility could worsen inequalities.
Thomas C, Mandrik O, Whyte S. Modelling cost-effective strategies for minimising socioeconomic inequalities in colorectal cancer screening outcomes in England. *Preventative Medicine* 5 July 2022
Leave a Reply