Keywords: Colorectal Cancer, Screening, Community Intervention Project
Background:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent and fatal cancer worldwide. In Portugal, there is a national screening campaign for CRC (CRCS), based on a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) in the asymptomatic population between 50-74 years old without risk factors.
In January 2023, our Primary Care Centre (PCC) screening coverage was below national average. This PCC is located in a rural environment, whose population has a low level of awareness for the importance of CRCS and low capability of correct sample collecting, with a high FIT rejection. A need for measurements to enhance CRCS proved to be an urgent priority.
Aim of the case report:
Objectives
To increase the CRCS coverage of the PCC, and to educate the population regarding CRCS’s relevance.
Case report:
Methodology
Between May and June 2023, information concerning CRCS was displayed in the PCC’s waiting room, local newspapers, local radio and social media. A partnership with the local county council was established, where doctors visited multiple small villages of the county to give educational sessions.
"Screening afternoons" were organized between June and December 2023. In each session, 120 patients were summoned to hear an explanation on the correct sample collecting process and to receive a FIT.
Results
After 6 months, there was an 85% increase in the total number of FIT delivered (944) and a 28% reduction in rejected FIT. The positivity rate was 2,97%. By December 2023, the CRCS coverage (measured by a specific performance indicator) increased 6,16 percentual points increase compared to December 2022.
Conclusions:
This project had a major impact, markedly improving the number of patients screened for CRC and raising awareness among the community regarding the importance of screening. Though a discernible improvement in CRCS coverage was achieved, there is still room for improvement in order to achieve the ideal coverage of 100%.
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