Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01262-7 (2020)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: PATIENTS WITHOUT COLONOSCOPIC FOLLOW -UP AFTER ABNORMAL 
FECAL  IMMUNOCHEMICAL TESTS ARE OFTEN UNAWARE OF THE ABNORMAL 
RESULT  AND REPORT SEVERAL BARRIERS TO COLONOSCOPY  
 
Version: 1 Date: 10 Sep 2019  
 
Reviewer:  Chu-Kuang Chou  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The study is designed for unawareness of abnormal fecal immunochemical test(FIT) and 
barrier to referral colonoscopy. Screening of Colorectal cancer (CRC) is very crucial and 
vigorous efforts have been made for decades. The implication of this research is questioned:  
 
1. The population is from UCLA care service and may not represent real -world 
screening population in USA. We know the CRC screening in USA is based on multiple 
modalities and combination of in -reach and outreach approaches. Authors did not exp lain the 
screening population and the screening policy in the method section. Therefore, we cannot 
know how these subjects were invited into FIT screening, and how they approach further 
referral colonoscopy.  
 
2. The sample size is too small. Only 67 subject s were contacted and analyzed.  
 
3. The title and conclusion are misleading and the authors interpreted the results 
wrongly. The study analyzed subjects with abnormal FIT and no diagnostic colonoscopy 
within 6 months. We cannot make the conclusion "Patients  are often unaware of abnormal 
FIT" because we need all subjects with abnormal FIT who are not aware of the results.  
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work i nclude the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to ass ess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
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5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
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