A Trial of the Implementation of iFOBT in General Practice

Colorectal Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Use of Immunochemical Faecal Occult Blood Test (iFOBT) in General Practice. A Randomised Trial of the Implementation of iFOBT.

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02308384
• Other study ID #: Randomiseret iFOBT studie
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: November 26, 2014
• Last updated: April 25, 2017
• Start date: September 2015
• Est. completion date: September 2016

Study information

• Verified date: November 2015
• Source: University of Aarhus
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is common, and a leading cause of cancer death. The evaluation of patients suspected to have CRC is difficult due to poorly predictive alarm symptoms and many patients present with uncharacteristic or vague symptoms. The faecal marker of human globin, iFOBT, could play an important role in aiding the general practitioner in detecting CRC.

Hypothesis

It will be possible to implement iFOBT in general practice as a test performed on patients who do not fulfill the criteria for fast-track referral for colorectal cancer, but whose symptoms could indicate an undiagnosed colorectal cancer.

Aim

To implement iFOBT in general practice and evaluate the uptake and clinical use of the test. Furthermore, we want to investigate the performance of iFOBT when used on patients presenting with uncharacteristic symptoms of CRC, and the clinical implications.

Materials and methods

The study uses a cluster randomised stepped wedge design. Clusters are constituted by the 18 municipalities in the central Denmark Region, and these are randomised when to receive a continuous medical education (CME). The date of inclusion is defined as the first working day in the month the CME is planned to be conducted. The CME is part of an intervention aimed to facilitate the implementation of iFOBT in general practice. Besides a CME, the intervention consist of a start package (iFOBT kits, a guideline and online educational material) that is sent to GPs when they are included in the study, and a status mail that GPs receive approx. one month after inclusion. The inclusion period is during the first 7 month of the study period, the study lasts for one year.

Perspectives

This study will provide important knowledge on how to improve CRC diagnostics in general practice.

Description:

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common type of cancer in Denmark and is a leading cause of cancer death. Since 2000, the incidence has been increasing by 1-1.5% each year. The estimated 5-year survival rate is currently 80% for stage I cancer, 50% for stages II and III, and <5 % for stage IV cancer. These figures emphasize the importance of detecting the disease in early stages and underline the current challenge of diagnosing CRC in general practice.

In 2008, a national fast-track system for cancer patients was established to ensure fast diagnosis and initiation of treatment. The fast-track system implies that patients presenting 'alarm' symptoms of e.g. CRC will be referred immediately for diagnostic workup; no more than 14 days must pass from referral to initiation of treatment. Several studies have shown that the positive predictive values (PPV) of the symptoms regarding CRC are fairly low (4-8%). In addition, approximately 50% of new CRC incidents will present with other vague and uncharacteristic symptoms than alarm symptoms.

In addition, a screening programme for CRC has been implemented. It is suggested that this will increase survival rate of CRC, however, it is estimated that approximately 75% of yearly CRC still have to be diagnosed through general practice.

A huge load is, consequently, still placed on general practice in the quest for earlier diagnosis of CRC, and better methods to aid the general practitioner in the diagnostic process are needed.

One tool could be the use of iFOBT in general practice for patients who present with symptoms that could origin from an underlying CRC, but without being alarm symptoms.

Aim

To implement iFOBT in general practice and evaluate the uptake and clinical use of the test. Furthermore, we want to investigate the performance of iFOBT when used on patients presenting with uncharacteristic symptoms of CRC, and the clinical implications.

Materials and methods

We will develop a guideline for the use of iFOBT in general practice. The guideline is aimed at men and women aged 30 years and above who present symptoms that could origin from a CRC, but are not classified as alarm symptoms. The guideline will contain a list of symptoms for which it is recommended to perform iFOBT and suggested actions for positive and negative test result. A value of <49µg/L will be considered 'negative' and >50µg/L as 'positive'.

The study uses a cluster randomised stepped wedge design, and is executed in the Central Denmark Region. Municipalities of the region are randomised when to receive a CME, and are included sequentially in the study during the first seven month of the study period. The CME are arranged on scheduled GP-meetings in each municipality and will consist of a 45 minutes lecture on CRC diagnosis and use of iFOBT. Besides a CME, the intervention consist of a start package (10 iFOBT kits, a guideline and online educational material) that is sent to GPs when they are included in the study, and a status mail that GPs receive approx. one month after inclusion. The study period is one year. Data analysis will focus on the uptake and clinical use of iFOBT in general practice, the performance of iFOBT when used on patients presenting with uncharacteristic symptoms of CRC and the clinical implications.

Perspectives

This study will investigate iFOBT and explore its role in general practice. To our knowledge, this study will be one of the first and most thorough investigations of this test in a primary care setting. The results will bring important knowledge of how to improve the diagnostics of colorectal cancer in the future and hopefully reduce time to diagnosis. Especially for patients who do not meet the traditional Danish criteria for fast-track referral, this study will be a corner stone in the identification of more efficient ways to locate patients at risk of developing CRC. At both national and international level, this project will contribute with important knowledge that may provide better planning of CRC diagnostics in the future.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 825
• Est. completion date: September 2016
• Est. primary completion date: September 2016
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• GPs in the Central Denmark Region

• Patients >30 years eligible for iFOBT according to guideline

Exclusion Criteria:

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Colorectal Cancer
• Colorectal Neoplasms

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Intervention
CME, Start-package and status mail

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Denmark	Research Unit for General Practice	Aarhus C

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Aarhus

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Denmark, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	The rate of positive iFOBTs		1 year
Primary	The number of CRCs diagnosed after a positive iFOBT		1 year
Primary	The stage distribution of CRCs for patients with a positive iFOBT	UICC stages I-IV	1 year
Primary	The positive predictive value for detecting colorectal cancer	The risk of having CRC when the iFOBT is positive	1 year
Primary	The positive predictive value for detecting colorectal cancer in relation to cut-off value of iFOBT	The risk of having CRC at different iFOBT values.	1 year
Primary	The positive predictive value for detecting colorectal cancer in relation to indications of using iFOBT	The risk of having CRC when iFOBT is positive and specific symptoms. When requesting FIT, the GP register the patients' symptoms.	1 year
Secondary	The rate of general practices starting to use the iFOBT, stratified for participation in the CME.	The relation between number of general practices started using iFOBT and time.	1 year
Secondary	The monthly rate of requested iFOBTs, stratified for participation in the CME.	The relation between number of requested iFOBTs and time.	1 year
Secondary	The monthly rate of positive iFOBTs, stratified for participation in the CME.	The relation between number of positive iFOBTs and time.	1 year
Secondary	Indications used for requesting iFOBT, stratified for participation in the CME.		1 year
Secondary	The rate of referrals in the cancer patient pathway for colorectal cancer		1 year
Secondary	The rate of performed colonoscopies		1 year