Table 1.
Input assumptions used to estimate the population at each stage of the patient pathways
| Stage in pathway | Opportunistic screening scenario (current practice) |
Population-based CRC programme screening scenario (proposed practice) |
||
| Assumption* | No of individuals | Assumption† | No of individuals | |
| Total population (all ages) | NA | 32 676 786 | NA | 32 676 786 |
| Target population (aged 50–75) | 19.06% | 6 228 195 | 19.06% | 6 228 195 |
| Eligible population (met all inclusion criteria) | 100% | 6 228 195 | 50.51% | 3 146 020 |
| Availed of/agreed to take CRC screening | 0.482% | 30 020 | 52.27% | 1 644 561 |
| Needed first reminder to return the iFOBT result (among those agreed to participate) | NA | NA | 78.71% | 1 294 514 |
| Needed second reminder to return the iFOBT result (among those received first reminder) | NA | NA | 88.10% | 1 140 405 |
| Returned iFOBT result (among those agreed to participate) | 100% | 30 020 | 41.63% | 684 683 |
| Received iFOBT positive result | 9.21% | 2765 | 18.01% | 123 287 |
| Availed of colonoscopy after positive iFOBT | 55.9% | 1546 | 41.07% | 50 636 |
| CRC detection after colonoscopy investigation | 4.04% | 62 | 4.35% | 2202 |
*The assumptions were derived from a study of Tamin NSI (2020) which was a 5-year evaluation of using stool-based test for opportunistic CRC screening in primary health institutions across Malaysia.5
†The assumptions were derived from the CRC Screening Intervention for Malaysia research project in Segamat District, conducted by Queen’s University Belfast, Monash University and Southeast Asia Community Observatory in 2021.
CRC, colorectal cancer; iFOBT, immunochemical faecal occult blood test; NA, not applicable; No, number.