Patients and Providers Are Amenable to Fecal Immunochemical Testing by Digital Rectal Exam.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Harini Naidu, Emory University; Brian C Jacobson, Boston Medical Center
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-09
• Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US): Open Access Titles
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2018
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2374373517753176
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Patient Experience
• ISSN: 2374-3735
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 236
• End Page: 237
• Keywords: patient feedback; access to care; population health; medical decision-making; quality improvement
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, General

Abstract

Fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) for colorectal cancer (CRC) requires patients to return samples for processing, after having a spontaneously passed stool at home. This results in low completion rates (only 50% in our institution). Using stool obtained during an office-based digital rectal exam (DRE-FIT) could improve compliance, but it is not known whether patients and providers would find this option acceptable. Surveys were given to 100 physicians and 118 patients at our institution. We found that 68% of patients and 88% of providers approved of DRE-FIT making this a potentially effective way to improve CRC screening compliance.