Colorectal Cancer Screening in Primary Care

The implementation of screening programs for colorectal cancer by screening for fecal occult blood has proven effective in reducing the incidence and mortality from this type of neoplasms. However, to ensure the efficiency of the programs require population participation rates of at least 50%. Experiences in our country show that the population participation is far from this recommended minimum number. Interventions to promote preventive activities in primary care are well received by the population; in the case of colorectal cancer, direct recommendation of primary care professionals to carry out the screening is one of the factors with greatest impact on increasing population participation in such programs. Care overload, circuit design for screening without the direct intervention of primary care professionals and the multiplicity of tasks that they must face, are elements that influence the low recommendation for screening in the target population who consults for any other reason. The introduction of specific reminders in electronic medical record (in widespread use in primary care), as a tool to facilitate and encourage direct referral by physicians and nurse practitioners to perform colorectal cancer screening will mean an increase of at least 10% in participation of the target population, increasing the efficiency of screening programs. The introduction of this new software tool will have good acceptance and increase compliance with recommendations from health professionals.