Colorectal Cancer Screening

This volume provides a comprehensive overview of quality metrics and methods used to improve quality for all major modalities of CRC screening. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of quality metrics and methods used to improve quality for all major modalities of CRC screening. It introduces the readers to the evidence of effectiveness behind various CRC screening modalities: stool-based tests (Fecal Occult Blood, Fecal Immunochemical and Fecal DNA tests), flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and CT colonography. In-depth chapters review the latest guidelines for CRC screening, compare differences among the five major national guidelines, and highlight the need for valid quality and cost indicators. While the main focus of this volume is on colonoscopy, since most quality indicators and analyses have focused on this modality of screening and surveillance, one chapter is devoted to quality indicators of other screening modalities. Differences between process and outcome measures are also highlighted and a small but valid set of recommended national measures are listed. Written by experts in the field, Colorectal Cancer Screening: Quality and Benchmarks is an important and useful resource written for gastroenterologists, primary care physicians, general and colorectal surgeons, family physicians, and investigators with research focus in screening and quality metrics. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of quality metrics and methods used to improve quality for all major modalities of CRC screening. It introduces the readers to the evidence of effectiveness behind various CRC screening modalities: stool-based tests (Fecal Occult Blood, Fecal Immunochemical and Fecal DNA tests), flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and CT colonography. In-depth chapters review the latest guidelines for CRC screening, compare differences among the five major national guidelines, and highlight the need for valid quality and cost indicators. While the main focus of this volume is on colonoscopy, since most quality indicators and analyses have focused on this modality of screening and surveillance, one chapter is devoted to quality indicators of other screening modalities. Differences between process and outcome measures are also highlighted and a small but valid set of recommended national measures are listed. Written by experts in the field, Colorectal Cancer Screening: Quality and Benchmarks is an important and useful resource written for gastroenterologists, primary care physicians, general and colorectal surgeons, family physicians, and investigators with research focus in screening and quality metrics.

This book offers a self-contained review of the theoretical and practical basis of colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide and represents a significant burden for both public health and health care systems. However, colorectal cancer deaths can be prevented using effective screening, and many countries and regions have launched population colorectal cancer screening programs. This book covers various essential aspects of colorectal cancer screening, including the epidemiology of colorectal cancer, the various screening and diagnostic tests or exams, quality issues in colorectal cancer screening, necessary infrastructures, the evaluation of effectiveness, and economic appraisals of screening programs. Focusing on organized screening, in which various quality indicators can easily monitored and effectiveness is more likely to be evaluated, it discusses the basics of screening theory and the natural history of colorectal neoplasms, to help readers understand the rationale behind cancer screening. Lastly, it features international consensus and guidelines on colorectal cancer screening to highlight the current trends in the field. This comprehensive book on recent technological developments and conceptual advances in colorectal cancer screening is a valuable resource for public health workers and clinicians alike.