PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jennifer A. Schlichting
AU  - Michelle A. Mengeling
AU  - Nader M. Makki
AU  - Ashish Malhotra
AU  - Thorvardur R. Halfdanarson
AU  - J. Stacey Klutts
AU  - Barcey T. Levy
AU  - Peter J. Kaboli
AU  - Mary E. Charlton
TI  - Veterans' Continued Participation in an Annual Fecal Immunochemical Test Mailing Program for Colorectal Cancer Screening
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.2015.04.140241
DP  - 2015 Jul 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
PG  - 494--497
VI  - 28
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/28/4/494.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/28/4/494.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med2015 Jul 01; 28
AB  - Objective: The objective of this study was to determine what proportion of veterans previously screened for colorectal cancer (CRC) using fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) would be willing to undergo a second round of FIT screening.Methods: Patients in the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (<65 years old, asymptomatic, average risk, overdue for CRC screening) who completed a mailed FIT (April 2011 to May 2012) were contacted 1 year later by telephone to collect demographic and recent CRC screening information, and were offered a second mailed FIT if eligible.Results: Of 204 veterans who completed initial FIT testing, 159 were eligible to participate in a second round of FIT screening; 132 (83%) participated in the telephone survey, and 126 (79%) completed a second annual FIT, with 10 (8%) individuals testing positive. The majority of participants (67%) reported being more likely to take a yearly FIT than a colonoscopy every 10 years. Participants overwhelmingly reported that the FIT was easy to use and convenient (89%), and they were likely to complete a mailed FIT each year (97%).Conclusions: Those willing to take a mailed FIT seem satisfied with this method and willing to do it annually. Population-based or provider-based FIT mailing programs have the potential to increase CRC screening in overdue populations.