IMPROVING EARLY DETECTION OF COLORECTAL CANCER THROUGH COMMUNITY PHARMACY ENGAGEMENT: EVIDENCE FROM A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF FECAL IMMUNOCHEMICAL TEST-BASED STRATEGIES
Author(s)
Georges Adunlin, PhD;
Samford University -McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical, Social and Administrative Sciences, Birmingham, AL, USA
Samford University -McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical, Social and Administrative Sciences, Birmingham, AL, USA
OBJECTIVES: To systematically review peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2025, assessing the role of community pharmacies and pharmacists in delivering colorectal cancer (CRC) screening initiatives utilizing fecal Immunochemical testing (FIT).
METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified studies meeting the following criteria: (1) peer-reviewed English language articles published 2015-2025; (2) interventions delivered by community pharmacists or in community pharmacy settings; (3) focused on CRC, colon, or rectal cancer detection or screening; (4) use of FIT. Exclusion criteria were: non-peer-reviewed sources, publications outside the specified date range, studies without FIT involvement, non-community pharmacy settings, or interventions not targeting CRC/colon/rectal cancer. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were strictly followed for study selection and reporting.
RESULTS: The initial search retrieved 212 articles. After title and abstract screening, 157 were excluded (irrelevant topic, non-FIT intervention, hospital/clinical-only setting). A full-text review of 55 articles led to the exclusion of 42 additional studies due to a lack of FIT integration or non-community pharmacy delivery. Thirteen studies met all inclusion criteria and were included for qualitative synthesis. Evidence suggests that community pharmacists can effectively increase CRC screening uptake through FIT distribution, patient education, and follow-up. Included studies were conducted primarily in high-income countries, with the largest representation from the United States (n=5), followed by the United Kingdom (n=2). Study designs varied, and randomized controlled trials were limited.
CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacy-based interventions for CRC screening using FIT show promising outcomes for improving participation and early detection. Despite methodological heterogeneity and a limited number of high-quality trials, the findings support expanding pharmacists’ roles in population-level CRC prevention. Future research should prioritize standardized protocols and long-term outcome evaluation.
METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified studies meeting the following criteria: (1) peer-reviewed English language articles published 2015-2025; (2) interventions delivered by community pharmacists or in community pharmacy settings; (3) focused on CRC, colon, or rectal cancer detection or screening; (4) use of FIT. Exclusion criteria were: non-peer-reviewed sources, publications outside the specified date range, studies without FIT involvement, non-community pharmacy settings, or interventions not targeting CRC/colon/rectal cancer. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were strictly followed for study selection and reporting.
RESULTS: The initial search retrieved 212 articles. After title and abstract screening, 157 were excluded (irrelevant topic, non-FIT intervention, hospital/clinical-only setting). A full-text review of 55 articles led to the exclusion of 42 additional studies due to a lack of FIT integration or non-community pharmacy delivery. Thirteen studies met all inclusion criteria and were included for qualitative synthesis. Evidence suggests that community pharmacists can effectively increase CRC screening uptake through FIT distribution, patient education, and follow-up. Included studies were conducted primarily in high-income countries, with the largest representation from the United States (n=5), followed by the United Kingdom (n=2). Study designs varied, and randomized controlled trials were limited.
CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacy-based interventions for CRC screening using FIT show promising outcomes for improving participation and early detection. Despite methodological heterogeneity and a limited number of high-quality trials, the findings support expanding pharmacists’ roles in population-level CRC prevention. Future research should prioritize standardized protocols and long-term outcome evaluation.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
HSD113
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Oncology