Cancer Res Treat.  2010 Dec;42(4):191-198.

Results of Colorectal Cancer Screening of the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea, 2008

• Shim JI
• Kim Y
• Han MA
• Lee HY
• Choi KS
• Jun JK
• Park EC

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aims to investigate the current situation of national colorectal cancer screening by analyzing participation rates, positive rates of screening methods and screening rate of secondary screening tests in colorectal screening of the national cancer screening program in 2008.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
With database about target population and screened individuals of the national cancer screening program, the results of target population and participants of colorectal cancer screening in 2008 were analyzed. Among adults aged over 50 years of medical aid and beneficiaries of national health insurance paying lower 50% premiums in the total subscribers, 4,640,365 were target population of colorectal cancer screening and the data of 984,915 undergoing fecal occult blood test (FOBT) as a primary screening were analyzed.
RESULTS
The colorectal cancer screening rate was 21.2% and the rates of national health insurance subscribers, females and the elderly aged 60-64 years were higher than those of others. The recipients with a positive result in FOBT recorded approximately 7.5%. Medical aid beneficiaries (7.9%), males (8.8%) and seniors aged over 75 years (9.1%) showed higher positive rates than the average one. Out of the FOBT positive recipients, 43.0% took a secondary screening and the rate undergoing colonoscopy (31.4%) was higher than that of doing double-contrast barium enema test (11.6%).
CONCLUSION
Colorectal cancer screening rate of medical aid beneficiaries and people paying lower 50% premiums among national health insurance subscribers, was different according to demographic characters (gender, age and types of health insurance). This finding meant that screening for the vulnerable needed to be encouraged by considering socio-demographic characters. Additionally, more efforts were necessary to increase the secondary screening rate of people with a positive result in primary one.

Keyword

Early detection of cancer; Mass screening; Colorectal neoplasms; Korea

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Barium
Colonoscopy
Colorectal Neoplasms
Early Detection of Cancer
Enema
Female
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Korea
Male
Mass Screening
National Health Programs
Occult Blood
Barium

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Participation rate of follow-up among positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT) persons in National Cancer Screening Program in Korea, 2008. *double contrast barium enema.

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  Fig. 2 Proportion of results of colonoscopy and double contrast barium enema (DCBE) in the positive group of fecal occult blood test.

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