OBJECTIVES: To identify the characteristics of mode of travel to screening clinics; to estimate the time and travel costs incurred in attending; to investigate whether such costs are likely to bias screening compliance. SETTING: Twelve centres in the trial of flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer, drawn from across Great Britain. METHOD: Analysis of 3525 questionnaires completed by screening subjects while attending clinics. Information supplied included sociodemographic characteristics, modes of travel, expenses, activities foregone owing to attendance, and details of companions. RESULTS: More than 80% of subjects arrived at the clinics by car, and about two thirds were accompanied. On average, the clinic visit involved a 14.4 mile (22.8 km) round trip, requiring 130 minutes. Mean travel costs amounted to 6.10 Pounds per subject. The mean gross direct non-medical and indirect cost per subject amounted to 16.90 Pounds, and the mean overall gross cost per attendance was 22.40 Pounds. Compared with the Great Britain population as a whole, non-manual classes were more strongly represented, and the self employed less strongly represented, among the attendees. CONCLUSIONS: In relation to direct medical costs, the time and travel costs of clinic based screening can be substantial, may influence the overall cost effectiveness of a screening programme, and may deter potential subjects from attending.
OBJECTIVES: To identify the characteristics of mode of travel to screening clinics; to estimate the time and travel costs incurred in attending; to investigate whether such costs are likely to bias screening compliance. SETTING: Twelve centres in the trial of flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer, drawn from across Great Britain. METHOD: Analysis of 3525 questionnaires completed by screening subjects while attending clinics. Information supplied included sociodemographic characteristics, modes of travel, expenses, activities foregone owing to attendance, and details of companions. RESULTS: More than 80% of subjects arrived at the clinics by car, and about two thirds were accompanied. On average, the clinic visit involved a 14.4 mile (22.8 km) round trip, requiring 130 minutes. Mean travel costs amounted to 6.10 Pounds per subject. The mean gross direct non-medical and indirect cost per subject amounted to 16.90 Pounds, and the mean overall gross cost per attendance was 22.40 Pounds. Compared with the Great Britain population as a whole, non-manual classes were more strongly represented, and the self employed less strongly represented, among the attendees. CONCLUSIONS: In relation to direct medical costs, the time and travel costs of clinic based screening can be substantial, may influence the overall cost effectiveness of a screening programme, and may deter potential subjects from attending.
Authors: J E Donnelly; L T Ptomey; J R Goetz; D K Sullivan; C A Gibson; J L Greene; R H Lee; M S Mayo; J J Honas; R A Washburn Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2016-10-31 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Luis Bujanda; Cristina Sarasqueta; Leire Zubiaurre; Angel Cosme; Carmen Muñoz; Araceli Sánchez; Cristina Martín; Llucia Tito; Virginia Piñol; Antoni Castells; Xavier Llor; Rosa M Xicola; Elisenda Pons; Juan Clofent; María L de Castro; Jaime Cuquerella; Enrique Medina; Ana Gutierrez; Juan I Arenas; Rodrigo Jover Journal: Gut Date: 2007-03-30 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: Lauren T Ptomey; Richard A Washburn; Matthew S Mayo; J Leon Greene; Robert H Lee; Amanda N Szabo-Reed; Jeffery J Honas; Joseph R Sherman; Joseph E Donnelly Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2018-08-24 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Richard A Washburn; Lauren T Ptomey; Anna M Gorczyca; Patricia R Smith; Matthew S Mayo; Robert Lee; Joseph E Donnelly Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2020-08-06 Impact factor: 2.226