Screen compliance rates in 14-years annual screening program for colorectal cancer with immunochemical fecal occult blood test-- identification of higher priority subjects in health education.

OBJECTIVES

The present study was carried out to assess compliance rates with annual colorectal cancer screening for fecal occult blood, and to identify the subjects with higher priority in health education to increase screen compliance.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A screening program for colorectal cancer was conducted between 1982 and 1995 in a Japanese villlage. Screen compliance rates in this program were summarised related to sex distribution as well as 10-year age cohorts.

MAIN RESULTS

Screen compliance declined slowly during 14 years time period, and averaged 55.4%. Mean screen compliance was significantly higher in women (56.8%) than in men (53. 8%), and also in aged 50-79 (63.5%) than in aged 50 or less (43.8%), and those 80 and older(12.3%). Subjects who experienced a negative result on colonoscopic examination had significantly lower compliance with screening.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that the youngest as well as oldest subjects, and the subjects with negative results of fecal occult blood test should be given higher priority in health education to improve screen compliance.