Disparities in Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) uptake – ethnicity and deprivation matter

In this episode, we talk to Mr James Bailey, a Colorectal Research Fellow from the Nottingham Colorectal Service.

Paper: Sociodemographic Variations in the Uptake of Faecal Immunochemical Tests in Primary Care

Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2023.0033

FIT is increasingly used to triage patients with symptoms suggestive of colorectal cancer but variations in use by demographics, ethnicity and socioeconomic status are unknown. We show, in a large regional dataset, that male patients, patients under 65 years, the most deprived patients and ethnic minority groups are less likely to return a FIT sample. It is important that strategies are developed to ensure patients with these protected characteristics are not disadvantaged with the increasing usage of FIT to prioritise urgency of investigations.