COLO-BENEFIT

COLO-BENEFIT

 

Funder: Bowel Cancer UK

Co-Lead Investigators: Dr Christina Dobson and Dr Laura Woods

Researchers:  Erin, Adam

 

Other team members:

Dr Morven Brown

Erin Pennock

Professor Colin Rees

Professor Linda Sharp

Dr Eman Zied

 

Status of funding: Oct 2025-Oct 2027

Summary

Background

Inequalities are present across the colorectal cancer (CRC) pathway. Over half of CRCs are diagnosed after patients present in primary care. Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) is now a core step in diagnostic pathways. However, a notable proportion of patients do not complete it. In preliminary analyses, we found variation in symptomatic FIT (SFIT) (non)completion by location, deprivation, and ethnicity; such variations could exacerbate CRC inequalities. COLO-BENEFIT will quantitatively and qualitatively examine variations in SFIT (non)completion by place and socio- demographics, through an intersectional lens.

Aims

  1. Identify and describe areas of low SFIT completion;
  2. Explore perceived barriers and facilitators to SFIT completion;
  3. Prioritise potentially-modifiable barriers and generate strategies to address them.

Methods

WP1: Data on SFIT requests from two regions (North East, South) will be obtained and matched with existing and novel socio-demographic indices. Age-standardised proportions of SFIT completion will be calculated by socio-demographic attributes and a SFIT Completion Index (SFCI created). Areas of high/low completion will be identified, mapped and characterised.

WP2: Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with at least 40 patients asked to complete a SFIT in selected low-completion areas in the preceding year. Interviews will explore barriers to, and facilitators of, completion, considering behaviours in relation to the social determinants of health and intersectional inequalities.

WP3: Workshops will be held in each WP2 fieldsite with members of the public and professional stakeholders. Barriers to SFIT completion will be collectively prioritised and ideas for interventions collaboratively generated. We will consider how interventions will be located within places and health systems, and how they may disproportionately impact marginalised communities.

Anticipated Outcomes

Identifying where people are less likely to complete a SFIT, why this is the case and what can be done to overcome this is crucial to driving forward earlier diagnosis of CRC and reduce inequalities.