Author Interviews, BMJ, Cancer Research, Colon Cancer, Psychological Science / 09.03.2016
Screening For Colorectal Cancer Not Linked To Psychological Harm
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Benedicte Kirkøen, PhD candidate
Bowel Cancer Screening in Norway – a pilot study
Cancer Registry of Norway (Kreftregisteret)
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Randomised controlled trials have demonstrated that screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) can reduce CRC related mortality, but the total benefit and harm of national cancer screening programmes are under debate. Saving relatively few lives requires a large number of people to be screened. Most people who attend screening will never develop cancer, but may be exposed to potential psychological stress by participation. Cancer is one of the largest threats to peoples’ health, and participating in screening for cancer might therefore cause anxiety.
In Norway, colorectal cancer incidence has nearly tripled since the 1950s, and currently a large randomised pilot study of a national screening programme (Bowel Cancer Screening in Norway) is investigating the effect of screening on reduction in CRC incidence and mortality. As part of an evaluation of the benefits and harms of the pilot, we investigated the psychological effect of screening participation in a large group of participants. Of particular interest to us were participants who received a positive screening result and were referred to colonoscopy.
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