TY - JOUR
T1 - Baseline findings from the Anal Cancer Examination (ACE) study
T2 - Screening using digital ano-rectal examination in HIV-positive men who have sex with men
AU - Ong, Jason J.
AU - Grulich, Andrew
AU - Walker, Sandra
AU - Hoy, Jennifer
AU - Read, Tim
AU - Bradshaw, Catriona
AU - Garland, Suzanne
AU - Hillman, Richard
AU - Templeton, David
AU - Hocking, Jane
AU - Eu, Beng
AU - Tee, B. K.
AU - Fairley, Christopher K.
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Objective: Cytological screening for anal cancer precursors is not always possible. We investigated digital ano-rectal examination (DARE) as a means of early anal cancer detection in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: We recruited 327 HIV-positive MSM aged 35 and over from clinics with HIV physicians in Melbourne, Australia, to receive an annual DARE. We analyzed baseline data from patient questionnaires regarding general, anal and sexual health, adverse effects from the anal examination, cancer worry, and quality of life. Results: The majority of men (82%, 95% CI:78–87) felt relaxed during the DARE, 1% (95% CI:0–3) complained of pain, and 1% (95% CI:0–4) reported bleeding after the examination. Nearly all men (99%, 95% CI:96–100) were willing to continue with an annual DARE. Quality of life was unaffected with utility scores of 0.76 before examination vs. 0.77 two weeks after examination, (p=0.41). An anal abnormality was detected in 86 men (27%, 95% CI:22–31), with one anal cancer identified. The specialist referral rate following DARE was 5% (95% CI:3–8). Recruitment rates were significantly associated with the clinic setting (sexual health centre 78%, general practice 13%, hospital 14%, p=0.002) and specialty (sexual health physician 67%, general practitioner 20%, infectious disease physician 14%, p=0.031). Conclusion: Annual DARE to detect anal cancer in HIV-positive MSM was acceptable for patients, with minimal side effects. Strategies to increase HIV physician’s patient recruitment would be needed if DARE were to be implemented in anal cancer screening.
AB - Objective: Cytological screening for anal cancer precursors is not always possible. We investigated digital ano-rectal examination (DARE) as a means of early anal cancer detection in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods: We recruited 327 HIV-positive MSM aged 35 and over from clinics with HIV physicians in Melbourne, Australia, to receive an annual DARE. We analyzed baseline data from patient questionnaires regarding general, anal and sexual health, adverse effects from the anal examination, cancer worry, and quality of life. Results: The majority of men (82%, 95% CI:78–87) felt relaxed during the DARE, 1% (95% CI:0–3) complained of pain, and 1% (95% CI:0–4) reported bleeding after the examination. Nearly all men (99%, 95% CI:96–100) were willing to continue with an annual DARE. Quality of life was unaffected with utility scores of 0.76 before examination vs. 0.77 two weeks after examination, (p=0.41). An anal abnormality was detected in 86 men (27%, 95% CI:22–31), with one anal cancer identified. The specialist referral rate following DARE was 5% (95% CI:3–8). Recruitment rates were significantly associated with the clinic setting (sexual health centre 78%, general practice 13%, hospital 14%, p=0.002) and specialty (sexual health physician 67%, general practitioner 20%, infectious disease physician 14%, p=0.031). Conclusion: Annual DARE to detect anal cancer in HIV-positive MSM was acceptable for patients, with minimal side effects. Strategies to increase HIV physician’s patient recruitment would be needed if DARE were to be implemented in anal cancer screening.
KW - Anal cancer
KW - Digital ano-rectal examination
KW - HIV
KW - Men who have sex with men
KW - Tertiary screening
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84978743883&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0969141315604658
DO - 10.1177/0969141315604658
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84978743883
SN - 0969-1413
VL - 23
SP - 70
EP - 76
JO - Journal of Medical Screening
JF - Journal of Medical Screening
IS - 2
ER -
