Abstract
BackgroundHarms of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening include psychosocial consequences. We have not identified studies using a participant-relevant questionnaire with adequate measurement properties to investigate these harms. However, Brodersen et al. have previously developed a core questionnaire consequences of screening (COS) for use in screening for life-threatening diseases. Therefore, the objectives were: (1) To investigate content validity of COS in a CRC screening setting and in case of gaps in content coverage (2) generate new items and themes and (3) test the possibly extended version of COS for dimensionality and differential item functioning (DIF) using Rasch Models.MethodsWe performed two-part-focus-groups with CRC screenees. Screenees were recruited by strategic sampling. In the first part 16 screenees with false-positive results (n = 7) and low-risk polyps (n = 9) were interviewed about their CRC screening experiences and in the second part COS was examined for content validity. When new information was developed in the focus groups, new items covering this topic were generated. Subsequently, new items were, together with COS, tested in the subsequent interviews. A random subsample (n = 410) from a longitudinal questionnaire study, not yet published, was used to form the data for this paper. We analysed multidimensionality and uniform DIF with Andersen’s conditional likelihood ratio test. We assessed individual item fit to the model. We also analysed Local Dependence (LD) and DIF by partial gamma coefficients using Rasch Models.ResultsCOS was found relevant in a CRC screening setting. However, new information was discovered in the focus groups, covered by 18 new CRC screening-specific items. The Rasch analyses only revealed minor problems in the COS-scales. The 18 new items were distributed on four new CRC screening-specific dimensions and one single item.ConclusionAn extended version of COS specifically for use in a CRC screening setting has been developed. The extended part encompasses four new scales and one new single item. The original COS with the CRC-screening specific extension is called consequences of screening in colorectal cancer (COS-CRC). COS-CRC possessed reliability, unidimensionality and invariant measurement.
Highlights
Harms of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening include psychosocial consequences
Uncomfortableness, pain, perceived burden of drinking the laxative and being bound to ones home during the bowel preparation were CRC screening-specific topics discussed during the explorative part of the focus groups, that were not covered in the previous version of consequences of screening (COS)
Embarrassment, pain, and vulnerability related to the colonoscopy as well as uncertainty of the screening result and opinions on participation were other new topics not covered in the previous COS
Summary
Harms of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening include psychosocial consequences. In 2014, CRC screening with iFOBT was implemented in Denmark, targeting all individuals aged 50–74 years [5, 6]. All participants with a positive test are urged to undergo a followup procedure, which includes bowel preparation and an investigative colonoscopy under local anaesthesia. Besides the intended benefits of early detection, there are potential unintended harms of screening, less frequently reported in the literature [7]. These harms include negative psychosocial consequences, from false-positive results and (over)diagnosis [8,9,10]
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