[Impact of an informative intervention on the colorectal cancer screening program in primary care professionals]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of an intervention in primary care professionals on their current knowledge about colorectal cancer screening, subsequent surveillance recommendations and referral strategies.

Methods design: Cluster randomized controlled trial.

Location: Primary Care Centers in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona).

Participants: Primary Care Professionals (doctors and nurses).

Intervention: Training session in six of the 12 centers (randomly selected) about the colorrectal cancer screening program, and three emails with key messages.

Main measurements: Professionals and centers characteristics and two contextual variables; involvement of professionals in the screening program; information about colorectal cancer knowledge, risk factors, screening procedures, surveillance recommendations and referral strategies.

Results: The total score mean on the first questionnaire was 8.07 (1.38) and the second 8.31 (1.39). No statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups were found, however, in 9 out of 11 questions the percentage of correct responses was increased in the intervention group, mostly related to the surveillance after the diagnostic examination.

Conclusions: The intervention improves the percentage of correct answers, especially in those in which worst score obtained in the first questionnaire. This study shows that professionals are familiar with colorectal cancer screening, but there's a need to maintain frequent communication in order to keep up to date the information related to the colorectal cancer screening.

Keywords: Assessment; Atención primaria; Colorectal cancer; Cribado; Cáncer colorrectal; Educación; Education; Evaluación; Formación de profesionales; Primary care; Screening; Training professionals.