Prevalence of skin screening by general practitioners in regional Queensland

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence and predictors of skin screening by general practitioners in regional Queensland. DESIGN: Questionnaire administered to participants by professional interviewers via telephone. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants were 3100 adults aged > or = 30 years (66.9% overall response rate), selected from residents of 18 regional Queensland communities with populations of between 2000 and 10 000 (as recorded in the 1996 Australian census). Within the last 10 communities surveyed, an additional telephone survey of 727 participants evaluated mole density. The survey was conducted between January and October 1998. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Prevalence of whole-body skin examinations by GPs. RESULTS: 11% of participants reported a whole-body skin examination by a GP during the previous 12 months, and 20% during the previous 3 years. Men and women reported a similar prevalence of whole-body skin examinations. Factors associated with a significantly increased likelihood of having had a whole-body skin examination within the previous 3 years included a positive attitude towards skin screening, a personal history of non-melanoma skin cancer, a tendency to burn, and having more than four moles on the right upper arm. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of Queenslanders undergo skin screening. Those at highest risk for skin cancer are more likely to be screened.     

Comparative efficiency of prostate-specific antigen screening strategies for prostate cancer detection

CONTEXT: Despite widespread use of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing to detect prostate cancer, the relative effectiveness of different PSA screening strategies is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To compare prostate cancer mortality, PSA testing rates, and biopsy rates using various PSA screening strategies, including the standard strategy of annually testing men aged 50 through 75 years. DESIGN AND SETTING: A Monte-Carlo simulation based on a Markov model was used to simulate the natural history of prostate cancer using different starting ages, testing intervals, and PSA thresholds for prostate biopsy. Age-specific PSA levels and prostate biopsy detection probabilities were determined from population data and surgical series. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of prevented prostate cancer deaths, PSA tests, and prostate biopsies per 1000 men aged 40 through 80 years, compared among 7 different strategies vs no screening. RESULTS: Compared with annual PSA testing beginning at age 50 years, the strategy of PSA testing at ages 40 and 45 years followed by biennial testing beginning at age 50 years was estimated to simultaneously reduce prostate cancer mortality and number of PSA tests and biopsies performed per 1000 men. Specifically, compared with no screening, the standard strategy prevents 3.2 deaths, with an additional 10,500 PSA tests and 600 prostate biopsies, while the earlier but less frequent strategy prevents 3.3 deaths, with an additional 7500 PSA tests and 450 prostate biopsies. Strategies that lowered the PSA threshold for prostate biopsy to below 4.0 ng/mL or strategies that used age-specific PSA levels were not more efficient than use of a PSA threshold of 4.0 ng/mL. These 2 findings remained true under all sensitivity analyses performed to test assumptions of the model. CONCLUSION: Recognizing that the efficacy of PSA screening is unproved, the standard strategy of annual PSA screening beginning at age 50 years appears to be less effective and more resource intensive compared with a strategy that begins earlier but screens biennially instead of annually. JAMA. 2000;284:1399-1405.     

Men's reactions to disclosed and undisclosed opportunistic PSA screening for prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE: To assess the degree to which men considered it appropriate for general practitioners to order prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing if the testing was either "disclosed" or "undisclosed" to the patient. DESIGN: Telephone-administered survey conducted in June to October 2000. PARTICIPANTS: 514 men aged 50-70 years, identified by random selection of households from the Sydney Electronic White Pages phone directory. METHODS: We developed two hypothetical scenarios. Each scenario described a GP ordering a PSA test for a male patient at the same time as other pathology tests were ordered. In Scenario 1, the GP's intention to order a PSA test was disclosed to the patient ("disclosed"). In Scenario 2, the GP did not tell the patient a PSA test was being ordered ("undisclosed"). For each scenario, men reported the degree to which they perceived screening to be "appropriate". We also recorded demographic characteristics, health status and health locus of control, and administered a 14-question knowledge test about prostate cancer and PSA screening. RESULTS: Over 90% of men stated that "disclosed" PSA screening was either "appropriate" or "very appropriate". Significantly fewer (44.9%) rated "undisclosed" screening as appropriate/very appropriate (P < 0.001). While the skewed distribution of responses to Scenario 1 precluded multivariate analysis to determine predictors, men rejecting "undisclosed" PSA screening (Scenario 2) were more likely to be younger (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94-1.00; P = 0.03); to have better knowledge of the issues (AOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.03; P = 0.02); and to be single (AOR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41-0.94; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Many men consider that inclusion of PSA screening within a battery of pathology tests without disclosure to the patient is unacceptable. Educating men about the pros and cons of screening may alter their support of opportunistic screening and thus enhance community expectations of "informed participation".     

Screening men for prostate and colorectal cancer in the United States: does practice reflect the evidence?

Context  The debate about the efficacy of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer has received substantial attention in the medical literature and the media, but the extent to which men are actually screened is unknown. If practice were evidence-based, PSA screening would be less common among men than colorectal cancer screening, a preventive service of broad acceptance and proven efficacy. Objective  To compare the prevalences of PSA and colorectal cancer screening among US men. Design, Setting, and Population  The 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an annual population-based telephone survey of US adults conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was used to gather data on a representative sample of men aged 40 years or older from all 50 states and the District of Columbia (n = 49 315). Main Outcome Measures  Proportions of men ever screened and up to date on screening for prostate cancer (with PSA testing) and colorectal cancer (with fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy). Results  Overall, men are more likely to report having ever been screened for prostate cancer than for colorectal cancer; 75% of those aged 50 years or older have had a PSA test vs 63% for any colorectal cancer test (risk ratio [RR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-1.21). Up-to-date PSA screening is also more common than colorectal cancer screening for men of all ages. Among men aged 50 to 69 years (those for whom there is the greatest consensus in favor of screening), 54% reported an up-to-date PSA screen, while 45% reported up-to-date testing for colorectal cancer (RR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.16-1.21). In state-level analyses of this age group, men were significantly more likely to be up to date on prostate cancer screening compared with colorectal cancer screening in 27 states, while up-to-date colorectal cancer screening was more common in only 1 state. Conclusion  Among men in the United States, prostate cancer screening is more common than colorectal cancer screening. Physicians should ensure that men who choose to be screened for cancer are aware of the known mortality benefit of colorectal cancer screening and the uncertain benefits of screening for prostate cancer.      

Prostate cancer testing: behaviour, motivation and attitudes among Western Australian men.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of Western Australian men aged 40-80 years who had been tested for prostate cancer, their experiences of screening and perception of its benefit. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional survey (random telephone survey) of Western Australian men conducted in February 1998. PARTICIPANTS: 400 men aged 40-80 years from 670 eligible households (60% response rate from contactable households with eligible men). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of respondents tested for prostate cancer (by prostate-specific antigen [PSA] test or digital rectal examination); reasons for having been tested; information provided by the doctor before testing; reasons given for and beliefs about the benefits of testing. RESULTS: Of 391 asymptomatic men, 220 (56%) recalled having been tested for prostate cancer and 167 (43%) had had a PSA test. Of those tested, 86% had their first test in the previous five years. The two most common reasons for testing were media publicity and general practitioner recommendation. Thirty-eight per cent of men tested during the previous five years reported that the doctor did not discuss the "pros and cons" of the test; 39% reported a discussion of less than five minutes' duration; 17% were given printed information before undergoing the test for the first time. Half were "very convinced" of the benefits of testing for prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Men are being tested for prostate cancer with minimal pretest counselling or written information.     

Treatment patterns for cancer in Western Australia: does being Indigenous make a difference?

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether hospital patients with cancer who were identified as Indigenous were as likely to receive surgery for the cancer as non-Indigenous patients. DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: Epidemiological survey of all Western Australian (WA) patients who had a cancer registration in the state-based WA Record Linkage Project that mentioned cancer of the breast (1982-2000) or cancer of the lung or prostate (1982-2001). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The likelihoods of receiving breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy for breast cancer, lung surgery for lung cancer, or radical or non-radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer were compared between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations using adjusted logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Indigenous people were less likely to receive surgery for their lung cancer (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41-0.98). Indigenous men were as likely as non-Indigenous men to receive non-radical prostatectomy (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.40-1.17); only one Indigenous man out of 64 received radical prostatectomy. Indigenous women were as likely as non-Indigenous women to undergo breast-conserving surgery (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.60-1.21). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a different pattern of surgical care for Indigenous patients in relation to lung and prostate, but not breast, cancer. Reasons for these disparities, such as treatment choice and barriers to care, require further investigation.     

Prostate cancer in Victoria in 1993: patterns of reported management

OBJECTIVE: To describe the management of newly diagnosed prostate cancer in 1993 during the early prostate specific antigen (PSA) era. DESIGN: Survey of medical practitioners involved in the management of a total sample of incident prostate cancer cases selected from a population-based cancer registry. The survey was conducted in 1996, and the sample was followed up until 1998, to obtain five-year survival data on all patients. SETTING: The State of Victoria, including both public and private health sectors. PATIENTS: All men who were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer in the six months January-June 1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reported management by method of diagnosis; staging investigations; and treatment by observation, hormonal therapy, radical radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: 1048 of 1117 (94%) cases diagnosed were surveyed. Most of the men (858 [82%]) were older than 65 years: 117 (11%) cancers were detected by screening asymptomatic men, and a further 269 (26%) were found by testing of men with symptoms ("case-found"). The 259 (25%) men treated with definitive local therapies (prostatectomy and curative radiotherapy) were younger (< 75 years), and their disease was clinically more localised (clinical stage, T1-2) and they were often found by screening or case-finding. Men given hormonal therapy (407; 39%) or managed without treatment (373; 36%) tended to be older and more likely to have been diagnosed by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The overall relative survival at five years was 86% and was decreased in men with cancers of higher histological grade or more advanced clinical stage, or who had higher PSA levels. CONCLUSIONS: Although a third of patients were detected by screening or case-finding early in the PSA era, definitive local therapies were used infrequently (25% of the total sample). Most received appropriate treatment.     

以PSA筛查为基础前列腺癌早期诊断与治疗的研究

目的了解扬州地区60岁以上老年男性前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)水平, 探讨PSA筛查与前列腺癌早期诊断与治疗之间的联系。方法制定详细的入选与排除标准, 选取扬州地区2020年5-7月体检的60岁以上老年男性3 102例, 均具有完整随访信息。采用化学发光酶免疫分析法检测体检者血清PSA水平, 对符合前列腺癌穿刺标准者, 进行B超引导下经会阴前列腺组织穿刺活检并进行Gleason评分。结果随着年龄的增加, PSA水平异常的比例明显增高(P < 0.01)。共有62名老年人接受了前列腺穿刺活检, 其中PSA在4~10 ng/mL 38人, 穿刺诊断为癌14人(36.8%); PSA>10 ng/mL 24人, 穿刺诊断为癌15个(62.5%)。随着PSA水平的升高, 前列腺穿刺阳性的比例升高(P < 0.05)。对穿刺阳性对象的肿瘤分期发现, 随着PSA的升高, 肿瘤的Gleason评分越高, 危险系数越大(P < 0.05)。结论随年龄增加, PSA呈现上升趋势, 且PSA水平升高, 前列腺癌的发生可能性越大, 恶性程度也随之增加。对于老年男性建议进行早期、定期PSA检查。     

西安地区无前列腺疾患男性fPSA百分比相关检测结果分析

目的 测定西安地区无前列腺疾患男性游离前列腺特异性抗原(IPSA)百分比,研究年龄对fPSA百分比的影响及fPSA百分比与前列腺癌病理分级及临床分期的关系,分析其与国外资料的差异,探讨适合于中国人的tPSA百分比参考值范围. 方法选择829例男性,其中无前列腺疾患男性775例,按年龄不同分为5组,测定血清PSA、伊SA并计算tPSA百分比,研究年龄与PSA、fPSA、IPSA百分比相关性.另选54例经病理证实的前列腺癌患者,研究fPSA百分比与前列腺癌病理分级及临床分期的关系,结合无前列腺疾息男性的fPSA百分比,确定适合于中国人的fPSA百分比参考值范围. 结果PSA、fPSA与年龄相关,fPSA百分比与年龄无关.fPSA百分比与前列腺癌病理分级及临床分期相关.西安地区无前列腺疾患男性fPSA百分比值显著低于国外资料报道.适合于中国人的tPSA百分比参考值范围为≥15%. 结论fPSA百分比不受年龄因素影响,临床价值优于PSA.随着前列腺癌病人fPSA百分比降低,其病理分化程度降低,临床分期增加,恶性程度增高.国外资料报道的fPSA百分比参考值范围不适用于中国人,中国人应建立自己的fPSA百分比参考值范围.适合于中国人的fPSA百分比参考值范围为≥15%.     

前列腺癌集团筛查的病理特征及与血清前列腺特异性抗原的关系

目的　探讨人群中前列腺癌的活检病理学特征及与血清前列腺特异性抗原 (PSA)的关系。方法　应用Elisa方法对长春市 12 0 2 7名男性血清PSA进行了检测及前列腺癌集团筛查 ,对血清PSA值 >4 0 μg/L和有尿路阻塞症状的男性经直肠超声引导下系统性行前列腺 6点穿刺活检 ,应用统计学软件SPSS 10 0进行病理分析。结果　 12 0 2 7名对象对 15 8例进行了前列腺活检穿刺 ,其中 137例血清PSA值 >4 0 μg/L ,2 1例血清PSA值 <4 0 μg/L ,但是有尿道阻塞症状。在 15 8例活检组织中 ,有 2 5 9%为前列腺癌 ,其中中分化癌和低分化癌分别占 6 1%和 34%。 4 1例前列腺癌患者的血清PSA值与Gleason评分间存在明显的线性正相关关系 (r =0 32 9,P <0 0 5 ) ,前列腺癌患者血清PSA值与 6点活检标本前列腺癌阳性点数间存在明显的线性正相关关系 (r =0 4 2 5 ,P =0 0 0 6 )。结论　中分化癌是人群中前列腺癌的最常见类型。应用血清PSA进行前列腺癌集团筛查对前列腺癌早期发现具有重要意义。血清PSA值不仅和前列腺癌的病理分级而且和肿瘤的范围有关系。     

Current and projected annual direct costs of screening asymptomatic men for prostate cancer using prostate-specific antigen

BACKGROUND: Concern over the cost of screening for asymptomatic prostate cancer by means of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing has played an important role in PSA screening policy. However, little is known about the true costs of current PSA screening in Canada and how costs may change in the future. METHODS: The authors performed a cost identification study from the perspective of provincial ministries of health. They used data from published reports, hospital discharge data, claims data from several provinces, a laboratory survey, a national survey of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about screening, a provincial cancer registry and expert opinion to estimate current first-year screening costs. Using demographic data from Statistics Canada and various scenarios regarding changes in screening patterns, the authors derived estimates of the future costs of PSA screening. RESULTS: In 1995 PSA screening cost an estimated $45 million (range $40 million to $84 million). Treatment accounted for over 61% of total costs, whereas screening, diagnosis and staging accounted for 35%. Screening all eligible men in Canada in 1995 would have cost $317 million (range $356 million to $691 million), more than the costs of all prostate cancer care in that year. Annual recurrent screening for all eligible men in 2005 would cost $219 million (range $208 million to $412 million). Projections from existing trends suggest that annual costs of PSA screening in 2000 are likely to increase from the estimated $45 million to approximately $66 million (range $59 million to $126 million). INTERPRETATION: PSA screening is costly, but even universal screening would consume a smaller share of national health expenditures than previous studies have suggested. Costs attributable to PSA screening may increase in the future owing to changes in utilization patterns and demographic shifts.     

MIF-173位点单核苷酸多态性与影响前列腺癌预后因素关系的研究

目的:研究巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(macrophage migralion inhibitory factor,MIF)-173位点单核苷酸多态性与影响前列腺癌预后因素的关系。方法:应用聚合酶链反应限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)分析259例前列腺癌患者MIF基因-173位点的多态性,比较不同基因型与前列腺癌患者的前列腺癌特异性抗原(PSA)、Gleason评分、临床分期的关系、结果:MIF-173 *C等位基因与PSA、Gleason评分、临床分期具有显著相关性(adjusted OR=4.39,10.73,15.68;95%CI:2.43～7.93,5.36～21.50,7.40～33.23)。结论:MIF-173*C等位基因可能与前列腺癌的预后有关,携带MIF-173*C等位基因的前列腺癌患者可能预后较差。     

Longitudinal evaluation of prostate-specific antigen levels in men with and without prostate disease.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate longitudinal changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men with and without prostate disease. DESIGN--Case-control study of men with and without prostate disease who were participants in a prospective aging study. SETTING--Gerontology Research Center of the National Institute on Aging; the Baltimore (Md) Longitudinal Study of Aging. PATIENTS--Sixteen men with no prostate disease (control group), 20 men with a histologic diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and 18 men with a histologic diagnosis of prostate cancer. OUTCOME MEASURES--Multiple PSA and androgen determinations on serum samples obtained from 7 to 25 years prior to histologic diagnosis or exclusion of prostate disease. RESULTS--Changes in androgen levels with age did not differ between groups. Control subjects did not show a significant change in PSA levels with age. There was a significant difference in the age-adjusted rate of change in PSA levels between groups (prostate cancer greater than BPH greater than control; P less than .01). At 5 years before diagnosis when PSA levels did not differ between subjects with BPH and prostate cancer, rate of change in PSA levels (0.75 micrograms/L per year) was significantly greater in subjects with prostate cancer compared with control subjects and subjects with BPH. Also, rate of change in PSA levels distinguished subjects with prostate cancer from subjects with BPH and control subjects with a specificity of 90% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS--The most significant factor affecting serum PSA levels with age is the development of prostate disease. Rate of change in PSA levels may be a sensitive and specific early clinical marker for the development of prostate cancer.     

2015—2017年上海市松江区中山街道社区大肠癌筛查情况和肠镜检查顺应性及其异常病变的影响因素研究

目的　描述2015—2017年上海市松江区中山街道社区大肠癌筛查情况,探索影响肠镜检查顺应性及其异常病变的影响因素。方法　根据上海市社区居民大肠癌筛查工作规范,于2015—2017年纳入50~74岁上海市松江区中山街道社区常住居民。第1年纳入全部符合标准的居民,后2年分别纳入前1年初筛阳性者和当年新入50岁人群。对社区居民进行危险度评估问卷和便隐血试验（FOBT）相结合的大肠癌初筛,任意阳性者即为初筛阳性。建议初筛阳性者进一步至定点医院进行肠镜检查以确诊。结果　2015—2017年,松江区中山街道社区共计筛查6 994例次,2015年筛查4 132例次、2016年筛查1 604例次、2017年筛查1 258例次。总体初筛阳性率为25.25%（1 766/6 994）,FOBT阳性率为5.96%（417/6 994）,问卷阳性率为21.12%（1 477/6 994）,FOBT与问卷双阳性率为1.83%（128/6 994）。接受肠镜检查者239例次（13.53%）,肠镜检查结果异常者124例次（51.88%）,肠镜检查异常病变中,腺瘤检出率较高,肠炎次之。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,单一FOBT阳性〔OR=42.967,95%CI（22.019,83.844）〕、FOBT与问卷双阳性〔OR=30.059,95%CI（11.723,77.074）〕是首次初筛阳性者肠镜检查顺应性的影响因素（P<0.001）;年龄〔OR=3.104,95%CI（1.177,8.189）〕是首次肠镜筛查者肠镜检查异常病变的影响因素（P=0.022）。结论　2015—2017年松江区中山街道社区大肠癌筛查初筛阳性率与上海市其他社区相仿,但是高危人群肠镜检查顺应性明显低于上海市其他地区。初筛阳性和年龄是影响社区居民肠镜检查顺应性及其异常病变的影响因素。     

Ⅲ型前列腺炎治疗前后血清PSA变化的临床意义

目的探讨Ⅲ型前列腺炎(CCPS)治疗前后血清前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)变化的临床意义。方法对经过筛查出的260例PSA≥4 ng/mL的Ⅲ型前列腺炎患者,在治疗前后行PSA检测并根据治疗前、后PSA水平及前列腺穿刺活检的结果分A、B、C三组进行对比分析,了解各组治疗前后PSA水平及前列腺癌诊断阳性率。结果 A组PSA平均值由治疗前的(6.54±1.86)ng/mL降至治疗后的(3.28±1.86)ng/mL,差异均有显著性统计学意义(P<0.01);B、C组治疗前后PSA值比较差异均无统计学意义;治疗后前列腺癌诊断阳性率明显高于治疗前,差异均有显著性统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论 PSA可用于监测前列腺炎预后情况,对于治疗后其PSA≥4 ng/mL的患者,活检可提高诊断阳性率,对早期筛查前列腺癌有重要的临床意义。     

The effect of digital rectal examination on prostate-specific antigen levels.

OBJECTIVE--To identify the effect of digital rectal examination (DRE) on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. DESIGN--A prospective trial before and after DRE. SETTING--Multicenter outpatient screening program. PATIENTS--A total of 2754 healthy men aged 40 years and older who presented to a prostate cancer screening program and consented to two phlebotomies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Changes in serum PSA levels after DRE. RESULTS--Patients were divided into four groups based on their initial serum PSA levels. The levels were chosen based on previous studies that showed different incidences of prostate cancer within these groups. The two groups with the lowest initial PSA values (0.1 through 4 micrograms/L and 4.1 through 10 micrograms/L) were found to have statistically insignificant changes in the serum PSA levels after DRE. The group with initial PSA levels of 10.1 through 20 micrograms/L had increases in serum PSA values that showed a trend toward statistical significance. The group with initial PSA levels of greater than 20 micrograms/L had statistically significant increases in serum PSA values after DRE. The alterations in serum PSA levels in the two groups with the highest PSA values were not clinically important as the patients' clinical treatment was not altered. CONCLUSIONS--No clinically important effects on serum PSA levels were noted after DRE.     

Australian general practitioners' views and use of colorectal cancer screening tests

OBJECTIVES: To determine general practitioners' (GPs) current beliefs, knowledge and self-reported practices of screening for colorectal cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING: Postal survey of national random sample of 1271 GPs in 1996. OUTCOME MEASURES: GP views on effectiveness of faecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and flexible sigmoidoscopy in reducing premature death from colorectal cancer in "average-risk" patients (asymptomatic with no family history); views on frequency of tests and target group; use of these tests; and independent predictors of views and use. RESULTS: Response rate was 67%. FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy were said to be effective as screening tests by 38% and 61% of GPs, respectively, but 30% and 25% were unsure. Independent predictors of belief in screening effectiveness were State of practice (for FOBT), male sex and awareness of Gut Foundation guidelines (for flexible sigmoidoscopy) and increasing age (for both). Most often chosen screening frequencies were every year for FOBT (29%), and five-yearly for flexible sigmoidoscopy (24%), although 19% and 26%, respectively, were unsure of the appropriate screening interval. Most often cited target group was people aged over 40 years with first-degree relatives with colorectal cancer: 63% of GPs would offer FOBT and 74%, flexible sigmoidoscopy. Fewer than 3% of GPs were likely to adopt an opportunistic approach to screening, yet 15% would be highly likely to recommend FOBT during a dedicated health check-up for a 58-year-old male patient, and 9% for a female patient. CONCLUSION: The absence to date of a coherent national policy on colorectal cancer screening is associated with wide variations in views and practice that are inconsistent with the available evidence. If GPs are to be involved in implementing population screening, national policy must be widely and effectively promulgated.