INTRODUCTION

: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and represents a global public health problem. In Argentina, with 13,558 cases in 2012, CRCranks second after breast cancer and has a high mortality due to the late diagnosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate both the organizational feasibility and the short-term results of local implementation of the National Program for Prevention and Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer (NPCRC) through a pilot test.

METHODS

: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted, which analyzed the pilot test activities of a screening program for colorectal cancer carried out in three cities of La Paz department (Entre Ríos province, Argentina) between February 2019 and February 2020.

RESULTS

: The targetpopulation was 730 people (men and women from 50 to 64 years old), of which 325 (45%) underwent immunochemical fecal occult blood tests (iFOBT). From the studies performed, 81 were positive (24.9%), 226 negative (69.5%) and 18 inadequate (5.5%). A total of 42 colonoscopies were articulated, from which 36 were carried out, representing a rate of compliance of colonoscopy after positive iFOBT of 43.2%, with endoscopic findings in 5 of them (14.2%).

DISCUSSION

: The pilot test fulfilled the objective of evaluating the organizational feasibility of implementing the NPCRC in the province of Entre Ríos, providing information and identifying problems to review the health system strategies.

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