Intervening factors for participation and non-participation in colorectal cancer screening in Spain.

Abstract

e22552 Background: The Spanish Ministry of Health introduced a population-based colorectal screening program within its common services portfolio in 2014. The program targeted adults from 50 to 69 years. They receive a personal invitation letter asking them to perform the fecal occult blood test (FOBT). To achieve public health benefits on incidence, mortality and cost-effectiveness from this screening program a 65% participation in the program is needed1.Although participation rates have been improved since 2014, there is still room from improvement as only 56% of the Spanish regions reach the participacion threshold2. In this study we examined attitudinal and social factors impacting on participation in the target population. Methods: A CAWI survey was conducted among the target population of the screening program using a nation-wide citizen panel. A representative sample of the Spanish population, with size of 5131 valid responses, was obtained. The fieldwork was conducted in June 22nd. The data was analyzed using a descriptive analysis for the entire sample as well as the logistic regression technique using the maximum likelihood estimation. This technique allows us to determine the variables that have the greatest predictive capacity with respect to the participation (or non-participation) on the (FOBT). Results: We found that 97.6% of people have heard of colon cancer, 86.8% are aware of the test, 72.5% have received the program information letter and 62.5% have performed the test (FOBT). Furthermore, logistic regression demonstrates that the reception of a program information letter (OR=7,381, p<0.01), and the prior knowledge of the screening test (FOBT) (OR=6,768, p<0,01) significantly predicted the participation. Other variables with a high contribution were age between 62-69 (OR= 1,470, p<0.01), the frequency of routine medical check-ups (OR= 1,717, p<0.01), a positive perception of routine medical checkups (OR= 1,659, p<0.01), and personal risk of colon cancer perception (OR= 1,404, p<0.01). Conclusions: The effective participation in the program is influenced by factors that are unrelated to the implementation process (including the reception of the invitation letter). Most influential factors on actual participation on the program are the prior knowledge of the program and the importance attributed to routine heath checkups. Specific interventions on these variables should be done concurrently with expanding coverage in order to achieve the goals of higher effective participation.