Who are the patients being offered the faecal immunochemical test in routine English general practice, and for what symptoms? A prospective descriptive study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) was introduced to triage patients with lower-risk symptoms of colorectal cancer (CRC) in English primary care in 2018. While there is growing evidence on its utility to triage patients in this setting, evidence is still limited on how official FIT guidance is being used, for which patients and for what symptoms. We aimed to investigate the use of FIT in primary care practice for lower-risk patients who did not immediately meet criteria for urgent referral.

Design

A prospective, descriptive study of symptomatic patients offered a FIT in primary care between January and June 2020.

Setting

East of England general practices.

Participants

Consenting patients (aged ≥40 years) who were seen by their general practitioners

SUBMITTER: Calanzani N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9486301 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature