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There is some debate among聽doctors and researchers about pushing the recommended bowel cancer colonoscopy surveillance intervals out beyond five years, but new research published in the has found those at a higher risk of the disease would likely need to be convinced.

Lead researcher Maddison Dix from Flinders University said聽the medical profession is looking to further personalise clinical care for those at higher risk of bowel cancer and reduce the number of colonoscopies people require 鈥� but for any changes to be effective, those most at risk would need to be comfortable with the changes.

鈥淐urrent surveillance recommendations advise that people at a higher risk of bowel cancer, including those with a family history of the disease or a personal history of polyps, should receive regular colonoscopies every 1鈥�5 years, depending on the findings,鈥� said Dix, a PhD candidate in the

鈥淗owever, research shows surveillance colonoscopies show no evidence of significant findings in the majority of cases, while the procedure is invasive, has potential complications for patients and creates pressure on the healthcare system.

鈥淚nstead, for people with an increased risk of bowel cancer, faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) could be used to monitor cancer risk, reducing negative outcomes from multiple colonoscopy procedures, as well as decreasing overall colonoscopy demand and financial costs.鈥�

The study investigated whether people at a higher risk of bowel cancer would be happy to swap out their colonoscopies for FIT surveillance 鈥� the same type of test recommended to the general public where kits are issued in the mail and able to be performed at home.

Members of the r (SCOOP), a South Australian bowel cancer surveillance program, who had a moderate risk of cancer and were suitable for surveillance with FIT and colonoscopy were invited to take part in a survey.

Of the 303 responses, 72% were uncomfortable with the idea of a surveillance change that included annual FIT followed by a colonoscopy for those with a positive result, in place of regular surveillance colonoscopies.

鈥淲e found that this attitude was linked to those who perceived they had a higher risk of the disease, a higher confidence in their ability to undergo a colonoscopy and lower perceived barriers to receiving one,鈥� Dix said.

鈥淧erhaps unsurprisingly, those who were less comfortable with colonoscopies seemed to be the ones that would be most willing to swap to faecal test surveillance instead.鈥�

The authors said it鈥檚 important that if any changes are made to the public health guidelines, people need to understand why the changes are being made so they can best heed the advice.

鈥淲e know from previous research that people鈥檚 hesitations around switching from colonoscopies to faecal tests includes the fear that something will be missed,鈥� Dix said.

鈥淯ltimately, if surveillance guidelines are ever updated, any individuals affected by the changes should be provided with information and reassurance regarding the efficacy of the alternative protocol prior to any changes coming into effect.鈥�

Image credit: iStock.com/SetsukoN