OBJECTIVE: Self-report is commonly used in epidemiologic studies; however, few data exist on the reliability and validity of this method for eliciting information related to the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. We examined the test-retest reliability and validity of colorectal cancer patients reporting on the process of their diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: One hundred and sixteen participants completed two telephone interviews, 1 month apart, and 95 general practitioners (GPs) completed a written questionnaire, to elicit information relating to key elements of the process of diagnosis of colorectal cancer. RESULTS: Acute symptoms such as rectal bleeding had higher reliability and validity than more general symptoms. Colonoscopy was the most accurately recalled diagnostic test. Recall of diagnosis date, and date of colonoscopy, had high test-retest reliability. There were considerable differences between dates of diagnostic tests given by participants and GPs, but there was no evidence of a bias in a particular direction. Accuracy of recall did not diminish as time from diagnosis increased. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that self-reported symptoms, tests, and dates in the colorectal cancer diagnostic pathway are generally reliable; however, the validity of reported symptoms and tests can be moderate to poor.
OBJECTIVE: Self-report is commonly used in epidemiologic studies; however, few data exist on the reliability and validity of this method for eliciting information related to the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. We examined the test-retest reliability and validity of colorectal cancerpatients reporting on the process of their diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: One hundred and sixteen participants completed two telephone interviews, 1 month apart, and 95 general practitioners (GPs) completed a written questionnaire, to elicit information relating to key elements of the process of diagnosis of colorectal cancer. RESULTS: Acute symptoms such as rectal bleeding had higher reliability and validity than more general symptoms. Colonoscopy was the most accurately recalled diagnostic test. Recall of diagnosis date, and date of colonoscopy, had high test-retest reliability. There were considerable differences between dates of diagnostic tests given by participants and GPs, but there was no evidence of a bias in a particular direction. Accuracy of recall did not diminish as time from diagnosis increased. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that self-reported symptoms, tests, and dates in the colorectal cancer diagnostic pathway are generally reliable; however, the validity of reported symptoms and tests can be moderate to poor.
Authors: Talya Salz; Shrujal S Baxi; Victoria S Blinder; Elena B Elkin; Margaret M Kemeny; Mary S McCabe; Chaya S Moskowitz; Erin E Onstad; Leonard B Saltz; Larissa K F Temple; Kevin C Oeffinger Journal: J Oncol Pract Date: 2014-06-03 Impact factor: 3.840
Authors: Magdalena Esteva; Alfonso Leiva; María Ramos; Salvador Pita-Fernández; Luis González-Luján; Montse Casamitjana; María A Sánchez; Sonia Pértega-Díaz; Amador Ruiz; Paloma Gonzalez-Santamaría; María Martín-Rabadán; Ana M Costa-Alcaraz; Alejandro Espí; Francesc Macià; Josep M Segura; Sergio Lafita; Francisco Arnal-Monreal; Isabel Amengual; Marta M Boscá-Watts; Angels Hospital; Hermini Manzano; Rosa Magallón Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2013-02-23 Impact factor: 4.430
Authors: M L Tørring; P Murchie; W Hamilton; P Vedsted; M Esteva; M Lautrup; M Winget; G Rubin Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2017-08-08 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Brigid M Lynch; Christine M Friedenreich; Farah Khandwala; Andrew Liu; Joshua Nicholas; Ilona Csizmadi Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-09-01 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Stuart Keeble; Gary A Abel; Catherine L Saunders; Sean McPhail; Fiona M Walter; Richard D Neal; Gregory P Rubin; Georgios Lyratzopoulos Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2014-02-25 Impact factor: 7.396