The Bowel Scope Screening Experience: A qualitative study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Bowel Scope Screening Experience: A qualitative study
IRAS ID
198669
Contact name
Lesley McGregor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2016/05/83, Data Protection Registration number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
The Bowel Scope Screening Experience: A qualitative study
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. The National Health Service England has introduced a new screening test: a once-only bowel scope screening (BSS) for adults aged 55, a procedure that can prevent bowel cancer by finding and removing growths in the bowel before they turn into cancer.
A leaflet given to patients prior to undergoing BSS advises that most people find the screening painless. However, a recent survey conducted by University College London found that 40% of patients experience moderate to severe pain during the procedure, with women twice as likely to feel pain during screening as men. These findings are of concern as screening is typically offered to healthy people and their satisfaction and well-being are important clinical indicators. A further concern is that fewer people may attend screening if they are worried that the test might be painful.
This will be the first study to explore in depth the experience of people undergoing BSS. Our secondary objectives are to explore how comfort and pain during the procedure is communicated and to explore factors relating to satisfaction with the BSS procedure (e.g. gender and time of appointment).
The study will be conducted at St Mark’s BSS centre in London using observations and semi-structured interviews.
• We will carry out general observations of people undergoing screening. These will be undertaken at different points of the screening procedure (from arrival to discharge) and at different times of the day and week.
• We will interview BSS attendees 1-14 days after their procedure about their experience.This research will provide lessons on development of screening services. We anticipate that these lessons will be of use to people developing information material and training of specialist screening practitioners.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1481
Date of REC Opinion
3 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion