Colorectal cancer screening using the faecal occult blood test (FOBt): a survey of GP attitudes and practices in the UK.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the UK. Five-year survival rates are less than 50%, largely because of late diagnosis. Screening using faecal occult blood tests (FOBt) can detect bowel cancer at an earlier stage than symptomatic presentation, and has the potential to significantly decrease colorectal cancer mortality. However, uptake of screening is currently low, despite the introduction of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (NHSBCSP), and it has been suggested that GP recommendations of screening can improve patient compliance. GP recommendation of CRC screening is argued to be affected by attitudes towards it, along with perceptions of its efficacy.

Methods

This paper presents the findings of a cross-sectional postal survey of G

SUBMITTER: Damery S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2841115 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature