Role of community pharmacies in a population-based colorectal cancer screening program: opportunities for quality improvement

Abstract

Background In Catalonia (Spain), most CRC screening hubs use the pharmacy-based model to distribute and collect the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits. The comprehensive evaluation of CRC screening programs, which include the role and implications of pharmacy involvement, is essential to ensure program quality and identify areas for further improvement. The present study aimed to analyze pharmacy collaboration with the screening program and pharmacy-based FIT kit distribution. Methods A descriptive study to describe the role of community pharmacies as well as the FIT distribution and collection data during 2018 was conducted. Time to FIT completion was assessed by Kaplan-Meier estimation, and with the log-rank test. A Cox regression model was used to adjust for other variables associated with the completion of FIT such as sex, age, deprivation score and previous screening behavior. Results Overall, 82.4% of pharmacies collaborated with CRC screening program. Out of 82,902 FIT kits distributed to screening invitees 77,524 completed FIT kits were returned to pharmacies (93.5%) with a participation of 39.8% among the 193,766 invitees. From those who completed a FIT, the median time to return the kit was 3 days. FIT completion time was significantly lower among women, older age, high deprivation score and previous CRC screening (p < 0.005). Conclusions In our cancer screening setting the engagement of community pharmacies is high. Our findings suggest that community pharmacists as part of an integrated screening program team and by providing key screening process data can enable a better understanding of CRC screening behavior.