The role of general practitioners in managing patient participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) targets early detection through immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT) screening of eligible individuals. This study examined Western Australian general practitioner (GP) follow-up processes of patients returning positive iFOBTs through the NBCSP. METHOD: The study reports on qualitative descriptive findings from round one key informant interviews of a two-round Delphi study. RESULTS: Sixteen GP interviews were undertaken for the study. Analysis indicated patient contact comprised a non-urgent appointment within two weeks. Three themes were identified. All consenting NBCSP participants with a positive screen were referred for colonoscopy unless comorbidities or procedural risk were present. Inefficiencies occurred in the interfaces between general practice-based clinical software, the NBCSP and the National Cancer Screening Register. The GP-patient relationship played a part in facilitating NBCSP participation. Conclusion GP participants regarded the NBCSP as beneficial but highlighted inefficiencies in tracking patients, referring them for colonoscopies and registering their screening data.