Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK and affects both men and women. A nationwide bowel screening programme, for all men and women around the age of 60, is currently being launched across the UK. This is similar to the screening programmes currently offered by the NHS for breast cancer ('mammography') and cervical cancer (the 'smear test'). There are a number of a different ways of screening for problems in the bowel: the test used in the NHS bowel screening programme at the moment examines samples of faecal (stool) material. However there is another way of examining the bowel and that is to look directly at the inside of the bowel using an instrument called a 'flexible sigmoidoscopy' or 'the Flexi-Scope test'. We will be asking you what you think of the Flexi-Scope test in this study because this type of screening may be offered via the NHS in the future. We would like to know what your immediate reactions are to the topics of bowel screening using the Flexi-Scope test and bowel cancer, without being given any more information about them. We will then provide you with some information about the Flexi-Scope test and ask you for your views again. All the replies we receive will be anonymous and confidential, and will be used for research purposes only. The aim of this study is to see whether certain types of information are better at explaining the Flexi-Scope test than others. We have 4 different types of information. You will be asked to read just 1 of these. The type that you are asked to read will be selected at random by the computer. Other people will be selected to read the other 3 types of information, again at random. The study should take about 30 minutes. This study has been approved by the UCL Research Ethics Committee Project ID Number: 0867/001. There are no potential risks from taking part in the study, however the topic of cancer can be sensitive for some people and so there is a small risk of feeling upset. If this should occur, please do not hesitate to contact either the research team or the Cancer Backup helpline whose contact details are provided at the end of the study. Your participation is completely voluntary and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time by clicking the WITHDRAW button on the bottom of the page. All information you give is anonymous. All data collected will be stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. If you have any questions you can contact me, otherwise tick the box to indicate you agree with the following statements.
	I am over 18 years of age I am currently resident in the UK I have read and understood the information above I understand that I can leave the questionnaire at any time by clicking the 'withdraw' button (which will be displayed at the bottom of each page) I consent to participate in this research
	Please answer all the questions and be as honest as possible; there are no right or wrong answers. Your answers are very important to our research and we are grateful for your help with this survey. For further information about the study, please contact Dr Anne Miles, Health Behaviour Unit, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, UCL, 2-16 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT     Email: a.miles@ucl.ac.uk