Self-Reported and Objective Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Planning, Compliance and Timeliness of a Diagnostic Colonoscopy after a Positive FIT Screening Result in the Flemish Colorectal Cancer Screening Program

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Flemish colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program (by fecal immunochemical test, FIT) was suspended and non-urgent medical procedures were discommended. This study estimates how this impacted diagnostic colonoscopy (DC) scheduling after a positive FIT and the interval between both in 2020. Methods: An online survey was sent to participants in the Flemish CRC screening program with a positive FIT but without a DC to explore the possible impact of COVID-19 on the scheduling of a DC. Self-reported survey results were complemented with objective data o... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Sarah Hoeck
Sharon Janssens
Guido Van Hal
Koen Van Herck
Dokumenttyp: Text
Erscheinungsdatum: 2022
Verlag/Hrsg.: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Schlagwörter: colorectal cancer screening / FIT / colonoscopy / mixed-methods / follow-up / compliance / COVID-19 / timeliness / Flanders
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-27089630
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://doi.org/10.3390/gidisord4030013

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Flemish colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program (by fecal immunochemical test, FIT) was suspended and non-urgent medical procedures were discommended. This study estimates how this impacted diagnostic colonoscopy (DC) scheduling after a positive FIT and the interval between both in 2020. Methods: An online survey was sent to participants in the Flemish CRC screening program with a positive FIT but without a DC to explore the possible impact of COVID-19 on the scheduling of a DC. Self-reported survey results were complemented with objective data on DC compliance and the interval between FIT and DC. Results: In 2020, DC compliance was 4–5% lower than expected (for 3780 positive FITs no DC was performed). In February–March 2020, the median time between a positive FIT and DC significantly increased. Survey participants reported fear of COVID-19 contamination, perception to create hospital overload, delay in non-urgent medical procedures (on government advice) and not being sure a DC could be performed as contributing reasons. Conclusions: On top of a 3% lower participation, the COVID-19 pandemic further increased existing DC non-compliance and the positive FIT–DC interval. The survey confirmed the crucial role of COVID-19 in the decision not to plan a DC.