Improving uptake of colorectal cancer screening among primary care attendees

Interventions: The intervention group will receive a one-off individual intervention delivered in the primary care clinic.
The intervention will involve the following:
In the waiting room, a research assistant will provide intervention participants with an envelope prior to their GP appointment. The envelope will contain: a) a faecal occult blood test kit with: instructions for completion; pathology request form, and: pre-paid postage to mail the kit for analysis.
b) A feedback sheet containing screening recommendations for those at average risk of colorectal cancer (including recommended: age to commence screening; screening test; frequency of testing). The sheet will also include methods to obtain FOBT as well as what to do with the FOBT provided.
The research assistant will deliver the survey and for eligible patients will complete the pathology form but will not provide any medical advice or endorse completion of the intervention.
The general practitioner will endorse the FOBT during the patient’s appointment. The GP will reinforce the importance of completing the FOBT and recommend the patient complete the FOBT using a script provided by the research team during a pre-study training session.
Primary outcome(s): Uptake of FOBT screening will be assessed via self-report in the intervention and usual care groups.[6 weeks post baseline]
Study Design: Purpose: Prevention; Allocation: Randomised controlled trial; Masking: Open (masking not used);Assignment: Parallel;Type of endpoint: Efficacy