Fecal immunological blood test is more appealing than the guaiac-based test for colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: The reasons for participation in fecal immunological testing (FIT) of subjects who were previously non-respondents to guaiac fecal occult blood testing (g-FOBT) have not been assessed.

POPULATION AND METHODS: We aimed to determine the reasons for current compliance with FIT among non-responders to g-FOBT, termed "converts‿, in a French district. A questionnaire was returned by 170 converts aged from 55 to 75 years (response rate 75.2% after exclusions).

RESULTS: The major barriers to participation in screening with g-FOBT were test-related: the test was perceived as complicated (24%) and it required three consecutive stools (28%). Among the test-related major determinants of FIT compliance was the perception that the test was less complicated than previous test (30%) and that a unique stool sample was required (29%). Among the non-test related major determinants of FIT compliance were the perception that the general practitioner was more convincing (31%) and the feeling to be more concerned because of age (21%). The reasons for compliance among converts did not differ according to age, sex, and rural or urban residence.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the simplicity of FIT and the endorsement of practitioners were both major motivations for FIT compliance among non-respondents in at least two previous consecutive campaigns.