Barriers to colorectal cancer screening: physician and general population perspectives, New Mexico, 2006

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates are low in New Mexico. We used statewide surveys of primary care physicians and the general population to characterize CRC screening practices and compare perceptions about screening barriers. In 2006, we surveyed 714 primary care physicians in New Mexico abou...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Preventing chronic disease Vol. 8; no. 2; p. A35
Main Authors:	Hoffman, Richard M, Rhyne, Robert L, Helitzer, Deborah L, Stone, S Noell, Sussman, Andrew L, Bruggeman, Elizabeth E, Viera, Robyn, Warner, Teddy D
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 01-03-2011
Series:	Peer Reviewed
Subjects:	Attitude of Health Personnel Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System cancer screenings colorectal cancer Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis Colorectal Neoplasms - prevention & control Early Detection of Cancer - psychology European Continental Ancestry Group Fear Female Health Promotion Health Services Accessibility Hispanic Americans Humans Insurance, Health Male Middle Aged New Mexico Original Research Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology physician perspectives Physicians New Mexico
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates are low in New Mexico. We used statewide surveys of primary care physicians and the general population to characterize CRC screening practices and compare perceptions about screening barriers. In 2006, we surveyed 714 primary care physicians in New Mexico about their CRC screening practices, beliefs, and perceptions of patient, provider, and system barriers. A 2004 state-specific CRC screening module for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey asked 3,355 participants aged 50 years or older why they had not ever or had not recently completed a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or lower endoscopy. The 216 physicians (30% response rate) reported offering screening to a median 80% of their average-risk patients in the past year and estimated that a median 50% were current with screening. They attributed low screening proportions mainly to patient factors (embarrassment, fear of pain, lack of insurance). However, just 51% of physician respondents used health maintenance flow sheets, and only 13% used electronic medical records to identify patients due for CRC screening. The BRFSS respondents most often reported that lack of physician discussion was responsible for not being current with screening (45% FOBT, 34% endoscopy); being asymptomatic was also often cited as an explanation for lack of screening (22% FOBT, 36% endoscopy). Physicians and adults in the general population had markedly different perspectives on barriers to CRC screening. Increasing screening may require system supports to help physicians readily identify patients due for CRC testing and interventions to educate patients about the rationale for screening.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1545-1151 1545-1151