Nielsen (2016) submitted an abstract titled Improvements of colorectal cancer screening by development and implementation blood-based biomarker concepts to the 14th Annual Conference on Translational Medicine and Oncologists Meet which was held in San Francisco, United States of America starting on the 28th day to the 30th day of November, 2016. The theme which the conference was based was cancer could be treated if it was detected. This resonates with the increased push for increased screening for colorectal cancer, the theme upon which my project is based.
Nielsen (2016) presents the use of biomarker concepts that are based on blood in the screening for colorectal cancer. The current project discussed the various techniques that are used in the screening for colorectal cancer. One of the important aspects of the tests and their influence on the attitudes of the target population were the sensitivity and specificity of the tests. Nielsen (2016) points out that colonoscopy or Fecal immunochemical test are the two options that are presented to patients who during screening are determined to have blood in their feces.
The Fecal immunochemical test presents with a high sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of between 90% and 95% (Nielsen, 2016). However, the low compliance rates mean that the clinical sensitivity is below 50% and this presents a problem because over 50% of the people who are determined to have occult bowel neoplasia during the screening are not identified (Nielsen, 2016). It is for this reason that Nielsen (2016) calls for the development and use of more enhanced concepts in the screening for colorectal cancer.
The arguments made by Nielsen (2016) are important for progress in the detection and treatment of colorectal cancer, especially when considering the statistics on risk, compliance with screening protocols, morbidity and mortality. The risk for contacting colorectal cancer increases as one ages as argued by the American Cancer Society (2014). Ideally, the elderly should be go for regular screening for colorectal cancer.
However, the statistics on screening rates from the American Cancer Society (2014) show that only 59% of the people aged above 50 years in the United States undergo screening for colorectal cancer. The number is even smaller in patients of the Latin American descent where the compliance with the screening protocols is estimated at 47% of the population aged above 50 years (American Cancer Society, 2014).
Consequently, 90% of the new cases of colorectal cancer are comprised of the elderly population aged above 50 years. Even more alarming is that 93% of the deaths resulting from colorectal cancer are found in the population aged above 50 years (American Cancer Society, 2014). The project aims to reverse these statistics by increasing the screening rates for colorectal cancer through the application of evidence based protocols.
The synthesis of evidence has shown that the application of evidence-based practice guidelines has a positive effect on the screening rates for colorectal cancer. The project will show that the use implementation of evidence-practice guidelines such increasing the health literacy of the population, use of web-based patient decision aids, eHealth Literacy models, and other information based models can help increase the screening rates colorectal cancer.
The project will also show that the use of the proper screening techniques that have been proved through evidence-based trials will also reduce the negative attitudes that people have towards the screening for colorectal cancer. In addition to providing empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of using evidence-based screening methods, the project will also recommend the most effective techniques for screening for colorectal cancer in the context of low compliance and decreased detection.
References
American Cancer Society. (2014). Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2014-2016. Atlanta: American Cancer Society.
Nielsen, H. (2016). Improvements of colorectal cancer screening by development and implementation blood-based biomarker concepts. 14th Annual Conference on Translational Medicine and Oncologists Meet. November 28-30, 2016 San Francisco, USA
