Result card

  • SAF4: Is the incidence of the harms to patients likely to change over time?
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT ) versus guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (FOBT) for colorectal cancer screening
C0004
English
Guidance Resources

Is the incidence of the harms to patients likely to change over time?

Authors: Agnes Männik, Irena Guzina, Petra Jandova, Leonor Varela Lema, Gerardo Atienza Merino

Internal reviewers: Matthias Schwenkglenks, Ingrid Wilbacher

Domain research was used and completed with information from in HAS recommendation dated 2013 {1}. 

As the screening test is non-invasive procedure, no change in direct risk is expected over time. Risk of false negative results may be reduced by a better sensitivity of the test used for screening. Concerning false positive results, they may be reduced by better education and better compliance of the patient. As FIT is specific for human hemoglobine {1}, its use reduces the number of false positive results due to non-compliance of participants related to diet restriction.

Risk of complications of colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy may be reduced by an experienced endoscopist. {1}

The reproducibility of the result and the consequent risk of false positive results may be influenced by patient’s non-compliance. However, no studies comparing the impact of patient’s compliance (diet, education) on the results of FIT and gFOBT are available.

Risk of complications of colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy may be reduced by an experienced endoscopist. However, data on the reduction of the number of complications related to experience of endoscopist have not been found neither.

Important
Partially
Männik A et al. Result Card SAF4 In: Männik A et al. Safety In: Jefferson T, Cerbo M, Vicari N [eds.]. Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT ) versus guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (FOBT) for colorectal cancer screening [Core HTA], Agenas - Agenzia nazionale per i servizi sanitari regionali; 2014. [cited 3 December 2022]. Available from: http://corehta.info/ViewCover.aspx?id=206

References