COLOFIT

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  COLOFIT – Optimal use of Faecal Immunochemical Testing for patients with features of possible colorectal cancer.

• IRAS ID

  314572

• Contact name

  Colin Rees

• Contact email

  colin.rees@newcastle.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 6 months, 25 days

• Research summary

  Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the third commonest cancer and second commonest cause of cancer death in the UK. In England, around 700,000 patients are referred annually by their GPs for investigation of possible CRC symptoms.
  
  Possible CRC symptoms are commonly investigated by colonoscopy or Computerised Tomographic Colonography (CTC). Both investigations are invasive, and have associated risks. Furthermore, the NHS is struggling with colonoscopy and CTC capacity. Only 55% of English units meet urgent cancer wait targets and there is a significant backlog of patients awaiting cancer investigations as a result of the COID-19 pandemic. Improved strategies to define patients by CRC risk are needed so that invasive investigations can be targeted at those most at risk of CRC. Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) may have a role to play in this.

  FIT measures blood within stool samples. It is the basis of population-based screening programmes for CRC. In symptomatic patients, FIT might be used in combination with other indicators to help identify those who are most (or least) likely to benefit from more invasive investigations. However, routine use of this strategy would only be possible if it proved acceptable to both patients and health professionals.

  This qualitative study will comprise interviews with patients who have undergone colonoscopy or CTC after FIT and with health professionals from different specialisms. We expect to interview around 30 patients and 30 health professionals. Potential respondents will be identified through clinical teams at collaborating NHS sites as well as through professional networks.

• REC name

  North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/NW/0240

• Date of REC Opinion

  5 Aug 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion