Pharmacy-Based FIT Distribution May Expand CRC Screening: Daily Dose

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Patient Care brings primary care clinicians a lot of medical news every day—it’s easy to miss an important study. The Daily Dose provides a concise summary of one of the website's leading stories you may not have seen.

On August 18, 2025, we reported on a study published in Cancer Causes & Control that examined preferences for follow-up care in a pharmacy-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program and identify any barriers to follow-up colonoscopy after positive fecal immunochemical tests (FIT).

The study

Researchers surveyed 1045 US adults aged 45 to 75 years who were presented with hypothetical scenarios involving a pharmacy-based CRC screening program, called PharmFIT, which would make FIT available through community pharmacies. Respondents were asked about their preferences for receiving screening results, how they’d want to be contacted for follow-up, and what barriers could potentially dissuade them from pursuing a recommended colonoscopy.

The findings

Results showed a clear preference for digital communication (email, text, or patient portals) for routine or negative test results, but 78% of respondents favored direct, interpersonal communication for positive FIT results. Psychosocial concerns emerged as the top barriers to follow-up: 41% cited fear of colonoscopy, and 35% expressed anxiety about a potential cancer diagnosis, both reservations outpacing structural issues such as cost (18%) and transportation (15%).

Authors' comments

"PharmFIT should use tailored, multimodal communication strategies to address patient preferences and include strategies, like patient navigation, to address potential barriers to follow-up colonoscopy. This study reinforces the potential of pharmacy-based CRC screening programs to increase screening access and opportunities, particularly in medically underserved communities."

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