EVALUATION OF PARTICIPATION AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM IN SAUDI ARABIA FROM 2021 TO 2023.
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the participation rates and performance metrics of the colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program in Saudi Arabia from 2021 to 2023.
Design: The research employed a retrospective cross-sectional design.
Setting: The investigation was based on data collected from the national CRC screening initiative targeting Saudi citizens aged 45 to 75 years, managed by the Ministry of Health.
Participants: The study analyzed data from all eligible participants who underwent CRC screening within the study period, sourced from secondary databases.
Interventions: The CRC screening program included the use of fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) and subsequent colonoscopies for those with positive results or classified as high-risk.
Main Outcome Measures: The primary performance indicators evaluated were the coverage rate, participation rate, FIT positivity rate, referral rate for colonoscopy, and compliance rate with colonoscopy.
Results: The analysis indicated significant improvements in key performance indicators over the three-year period. The coverage rate increased from 1% in 2021 to 3.4% in 2023 (p < 0.001). The number of individuals screened escalated from 30,641 in 2021 to 100,340 in 2023 (p < 0.001). While the FIT positivity rate remained stable at approximately 5.7%, the absolute number of positive FIT results rose significantly (p < 0.001). The referral rate for colonoscopy consistently remained high, and compliance with colonoscopy appointments showed marked improvement (p < 0.001). The study also highlighted gender and regional disparities, with a slight majority of participants being female (51.5%) and notable regional differences in screening outcomes.
Conclusions: The CRC screening program in Saudi Arabia has shown substantial progress in terms of increased participation and improved performance metrics between 2021 and 2023. The results underscore the program's success in expanding screening coverage and enhancing follow-up compliance. However, the findings also call for targeted efforts to mitigate gender and regional disparities.
