Danish medical journal
Cure8 research brief
Why This Matters
A positive stool screening test requires diagnostic colonoscopy to check for colorectal cancer or other treatable conditions. Understanding why some people skip follow-up helps programs reduce missed diagnoses and improve outcomes.
Who Should Pay Attention
Adults invited to colorectal cancer screening; primary care clinicians and screening program staff; patient advocates focused on screening uptake.
Study Snapshot
Story typeClinical Reference
Evidence typeResearch paper
Source depthJournal abstract
What To Know
This Danish study looked at people in the North Denmark Region who had a positive immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) in 2020 but did not get the recommended follow-up colonoscopy.
The researchers reviewed medical records for comorbidities, prior colonoscopies, hospitalizations and presence of inflammatory bowel disease, and they sent questionnaires about reasons for not attending. About two-thirds of eligible people completed the questionnaire.
The record review showed a sizable share had significant comorbidity (ASA ≥3 or Charlson score ≥2), 10% had known IBD, and 20% had had a colonoscopy within two years.
Questionnaire respondents commonly cited a recent colonoscopy or hemorrhoids as reasons, but many also reported non-medical reasons such as feeling healthy, finding the test unpleasant, or not understanding the screening programme.
The authors conclude that much non-adherence was not medically justified and suggest better patient education and more involvement from general practitioners could reduce barriers to follow-up colonoscopy.
Keep In Mind
Findings come from a regional audit and questionnaire study (structured abstract). Reasons for non-adherence included both medical (recent colonoscopy, comorbidity) and non-medical (perception of health, unpleasantness, lack of understanding); results describe associations, not intervention effects.
Source Details
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
Research paper
Evidence type derived from source or registry metadata.
PublicationDanish medical journal
AuthorsNielsen CF, Al-Noori A, Nielsen NM +2 more
Study typeJournal article
Indexed viaEurope PMC
Source typeResearch paper
PublishedSep 14, 2026, 12:00 AM
Content availableJournal abstract
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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