Feasibility and acceptability of motivational interviewing to promote colorectal cancer screening among average risk Chinese older adults

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of motivational interviewing to promote fecal immunochemical test (FIT) uptake among average-risk Chinese older adults and to preliminarily examine its effects on the knowledge level, perceived barriers to and benefits of the FIT, self-efficacy in screening, screening intention and FIT uptake. METHODS: A one-group pre-test and post-test study design was adopted. A motivational interviewing intervention using face-to-face and telephone approaches was delivered to average-risk Chinese older adults aged 50–75 years. The number of participants approached, the number eligible for participation and intervention completion, and study retention rates were recorded. The knowledge, perceived benefits of, barriers to, self-efficacy in and intention to participate in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening were assessed before and after the intervention. FIT uptake was recorded 3 months after the intervention. Interviews were conducted to record the participants’ experiences of participating in the intervention. RESULTS: Twenty Chinese older adults completed the study. The motivational interviewing intervention improved the screening intention, knowledge of CRC and its screening, the perceived benefits of and self-efficacy in screening and perceived barriers to screening. Twelve participants (60%) had undergone FIT screening. Nineteen participants attended the interviews. They were all satisfied with the intervention. Three categories were generated regarding their experience in participating in the intervention, namely, (1) enhanced motivation and self-efficacy in screening, (2) enhanced understanding of the CRC screening program, and (3) areas for intervention improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a motivational interviewing intervention was feasible and was acceptable to average-risk Chinese older adults. A full-scale study should be conducted in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN39658070.