Colorectal cancer screening practices among attendees at a cancer screening clinic.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening behaviors among patients seen in a general cancer screening clinic.

METHODS

Age-eligible respondents completed a brief self-administered survey examining self-reported compliance with CRC screening recommendations and beliefs about the benefits of CRC screening.

RESULTS

Overall compliance with CRC screening among respondents was 43%. Although compliance did not differ by gender, persons aged 65+ years were more than five times more likely to be compliant with CRC screening (OR = 5.29, CI = 2.06-13.58). While a majority of respondents (87%) reported that they would complete CRC screening if recommended by a doctor, only 54% had talked with their doctors about examinations for CRC. Males were more likely to report they would complete testing if recommended by their doctors (OR = 6.81, CI = 1.46-31.8) and twice as likely to report having talked to their doctors about CRC testing (OR = 2.71, CI = 1.32-5.56).

CONCLUSIONS

Efforts to enhance CRC screening behaviors among motivated subpopulations seeking preventive care might consider opportunities to augment physician-patient dialogues regarding the need for screening tests. In addition, the dissonance between the recognized need for CRC testing and lack of compliance warrants further examination.