R-FIT for purpose!

GUTS is pleased to be supporting a research project that is being carried out by Nick Farkas in partnership with colleagues from the Southern Bowel Cancer Screening Hub  in Guildford. The R-FIT Study (Replicate and Repeat Faecal Immunochemical Tests) is examining if repeated FIT tests can lead to a more effective management of symptomatic patients so that colonoscopy follow-ups can be used more selectively. At the moment colonoscopy is standard for anyone who has a positive FIT (FIT is the standard test used by the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme); colonoscopy is uncomfortable and invasive for the individual concerned and is also a precious NHS resource that is in very high demand. Given that most patients receiving a colonoscopy will not have colorectal cancer, finding ways to manage this resource more effectively makes sense for all concerned as waiting times will be relieved and priority patients will receive a more timely diagnosis.

Mr Farkas said: “The Study is progressing well with over 260 patients recruited in the first 3 months.  Patients have been very positive and willing to help the Study which has been great!  This means that we are on track from a recruitment perspective.  We now have NIHR status which may enable other sites to be incorporated should we or they wish.  I will be doing some interim analysis at six months to determine how things are looking.”

Note:
NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) is the research arm of the NHS, Find out more here.

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