Table 2.
Characteristics of selected fecal occult blood test colorectal cancer screening projects including personal invitations
| Country | Age group (yr), test | Time period | Procedure in personal invitation | Participation rate | Source |
| Studies and pilot projects | |||||
| England | 50-69 | 2000-2004 | Centralized invitations by the screening unit | F: 59% | Weller et al[67], 2007 |
| gFOBT | Sending fecal occult blood test (FOBT) test kits | SM: 48% | UKCRCSPG[66], 2004 | ||
| SW: 56% | |||||
| France | 50-74 | 2003-2006 | Centralized invitations according to sickness fund database files | FM: 54% | Denis et al[59], 2007 |
| gFOBT | Invitation to general practitioners (GP), reminder after 6 mo, FOBT kit reminder 4 mo later | FW: 57% | |||
| Exclusions by GP: serious illness, recent colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, high CRC risk | |||||
| Netherlands | 50-74 | 2006-2007 | Centralized invitations | gFOBT: | Hol et al[60], 2010 |
| gFOBT, FIT | Exclusions: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), CRC, recent CRC screening | 50% | |||
| Pre-invitation, sending test kits after 2 wk, reminder after 6 wk | FIT: 62% | ||||
| Scotland | 50-69 | 2000-2007 | Centralized invitations by the screening center | FM: 50%, FW: 60% | Steele et al[65], 2009 |
| gFOBT | Sending FOBT test kits | SM: 49%, SW: 57% | |||
| Reminder-second kit-after 6 wk (kit in first round only) | |||||
| Spain | 50-69 | Since 2000 | Centralized invitations | FM: 17%, FW: 18% | Peris et al[64], 2007 |
| gFOBT | Exclusions: CRC, adenoma, high CRC risk | SM: 21%, SW: 24% | |||
| Invitation-reply-sending test kit, reminder after 6 wk | |||||
| Population-based screening programs | |||||
| England | 60-69 | Since 2006 | Centralized invitations by the screening center | M: 50% | Logan et al[61], 2012 |
| gFOBT | People registered with a GP practice | W: 54% | |||
| Sending FOBT test kits | |||||
| Finland | 60-69 | Since 2004 | Centralized invitations by the national screening center | FM: 62%, FW: 77% | Malila et al[48], 2011 |
| gFOBT | using Population Register Center | SM: 68%, SW: 80% | Malila et al[63], 2008 | ||
| Sending FOBT test kits | Malila et al[62], 2005 | ||||
F: First round of screening; S: Second round of screening; M: Men; W: Women; gFOBT: Guaiac fecal occult blood test; FIT: Fecal immunochemical test.