Results of The Osijek Croatian Health Center survey conducted in 2022-2023 on the possible reasons for non-participation in The National Colon Cancer Early Detection Program

The National Colorectal Cancer (CRC) screening program in Croatia recorded a low screening response rate. It was only in 2022 that the response to the fourth cycle invitation increased to 36%. The share of people who responded to the invitation is still no higher than 25%, which is still insufficient to start achieving the long-term goals of the tested National Program. The study Improvement of the National Program of Early Colon Cancer Detection in the Osijek Baranja County through Increased Integration of the Program in the Practice of Family Medicine included 104 non-responders to the CRC program. 25 persons (24%) immediately accepted the screening invitation. After a motivational interview with the family medicine doctor, 40 of them (56%) responded to the screening, while 33 of them (44%) did not respond to the invitation. The family medicine (FM) examinees who responded to the screening consider being invited to a screening by their team as a very acceptable way of being invited, and they give their consent to it in 100% of cases. Members of FM involved in the study suggest education of all FM teams and their active involvement in the program, as well as stimulation of involvement outside of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (DTP). The importance of personal contact and the support of family medicine doctors is emphasized. They also propose an evaluation of the contributions of all involved in the CRC screening program.