Socioeconomic deprivation and cancer risk post-colonoscopy v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of socioeconomic deprivation in future cancer and advanced adenoma risk after bowel screening colonoscopy - biology, healthcare systems and the patient
IRAS ID
359789
Contact name
Katie A. Robb
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
Bowel screening participants are invited to send a postal stool sample, and if blood is found, are invited for a colonoscopy (invasive camera investigation of the large bowel). In the United Kingdom, over 220,000 screening colonoscopies were carried out in 2019. Of these, more than 33,000 participants (15%) had a polyp which was removed at the first colonoscopy. People who have pre-cancerous polyps removed remain at risk of more polyps in the future. Over 100,000 people each year are asked to have a second, or surveillance, colonoscopy.
We know that participants from more deprived areas are less likely to take part in bowel surveillance. This is important as people from more deprived backgrounds have a higher likelihood of getting bowel cancer, are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced or incurable disease and are more likely to die from bowel cancer even when it is potentially curable. We will look at this problem in multiple ways:
Work Package 1: Questionnaire - We will invite participants who have undergone bowel screening colonoscopy in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to fill out our postal questionnaire, including participants from high and low deprivation postcodes according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Work Package 2: Co-design workshops – Based on findings from the questionnaire, we will co-design solutions that can be used to reduce the barriers.
N.B. We are seeking ethical approval for Work Package 1. The results of this will inform the design of Work Package 2. We have provided the provisional plans for Work Package 2, but we are not seeking ethical approval for Work Package 2 at this stage. Our plan is to submit a Substantial Amendment for this.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0288
Date of REC Opinion
22 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion