TY - JOUR
T1 - "You're dealing with the bottom here…" understanding reasons for reduced utilisation
T2 - a qualitative study on colorectal cancer screening among vulnerable men at a drop-in centre in Denmark
AU - Tatari, Camilla Rahr
AU - Kirkegaard, Pia
AU - Andersen, Berit
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024. The Author(s).
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening can reduce both CRC incidence and mortality, and faecal immunochemical testing (FIT)-based screening programmes are therefore now being implemented in many countries. However, social inequality in FIT-based screening participation is well documented, and initiatives to address this challenge are understudied. We explored the perceptions of CRC screening and the perceived barriers and facilitators towards FIT-based CRC screening among men visiting a drop-in centre for people with severe social problems in Denmark. METHODS: The study was a qualitative interview study. Participants were sixteen men visiting a drop-in centre in Denmark. A local staff member provided supplementary information and assisted with the recruitment process. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, followed by an inductive content analysis. RESULTS: The men were often dealing with health and social problems, and they often had low self-esteem. At first, they stated that they did not think much about cancer and their own risk of being diagnosed with it. They argued that they had little time, energy, and resources to participating in, for example, CRC screening programmes, and barriers to participating were facts of life such as comorbidity and cognitive difficulties. Further, they were not sure how to participate, and some misunderstood the concept of screening. However, during the interviews, the main part of the participants became very keen to participate, and they suggested that in the future, they could receive regular information about cancer screening in face-to-face interactions with someone who cared and was interested in helping them. CONCLUSION: Men in a vulnerable position visiting a drop-in centre were interested in CRC screening. If we intervene in a way that meets the needs among these vulnerable citizens, it may contribute to reducing social inequality in FIT-based CRC screening programmes.
AB - BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening can reduce both CRC incidence and mortality, and faecal immunochemical testing (FIT)-based screening programmes are therefore now being implemented in many countries. However, social inequality in FIT-based screening participation is well documented, and initiatives to address this challenge are understudied. We explored the perceptions of CRC screening and the perceived barriers and facilitators towards FIT-based CRC screening among men visiting a drop-in centre for people with severe social problems in Denmark. METHODS: The study was a qualitative interview study. Participants were sixteen men visiting a drop-in centre in Denmark. A local staff member provided supplementary information and assisted with the recruitment process. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, followed by an inductive content analysis. RESULTS: The men were often dealing with health and social problems, and they often had low self-esteem. At first, they stated that they did not think much about cancer and their own risk of being diagnosed with it. They argued that they had little time, energy, and resources to participating in, for example, CRC screening programmes, and barriers to participating were facts of life such as comorbidity and cognitive difficulties. Further, they were not sure how to participate, and some misunderstood the concept of screening. However, during the interviews, the main part of the participants became very keen to participate, and they suggested that in the future, they could receive regular information about cancer screening in face-to-face interactions with someone who cared and was interested in helping them. CONCLUSION: Men in a vulnerable position visiting a drop-in centre were interested in CRC screening. If we intervene in a way that meets the needs among these vulnerable citizens, it may contribute to reducing social inequality in FIT-based CRC screening programmes.
KW - Colorectal Neoplasms
KW - Denmark
KW - Early Detection of Cancer
KW - Healthcare Disparities
KW - Mass Screening
KW - Non-Participation
KW - Participation
KW - Qualitative Research
KW - Vulnerable Populations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85208164437&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-024-20496-8
DO - 10.1186/s12889-024-20496-8
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 39478487
AN - SCOPUS:85208164437
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 24
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
IS - 1
M1 - 3012
ER -