BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Public compliance of recommended screening tests is a key element for increasing participation in colorectal cancer screening campaigns. We intended to investigate the use of the recommended screening tests for colorectal cancer detection in a sample of average-risk subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study with random selection of participants. We included 953 average-risk consecutive participants of a colorectal cancer-screening program who fulfilled a questionnaire to determine their previous use of diagnostic procedures for colorectal cancer detection, use with screening intention and use in the recommended intervals. RESULTS: In total 44% individuals were aware of any screening test for colorectal cancer. A recommended test had ever been received by 13%, but in less than 1% the indication was screening. Use of procedures for colorectal cancer detection was scarce compared with those for breast cancer detection (95%) and prostate cancer detection (47%). Use of a recent colorectal cancer procedure was also lower (8%) than a breast cancer (81%) or prostate cancer procedure (28%). CONCLUSION: Use of colorectal cancer screening and compliance of the recommended guidelines seems suboptimal in the Spanish population. Efforts are warranted for increasing colorectal cancer screening in this population.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Public compliance of recommended screening tests is a key element for increasing participation in colorectal cancer screening campaigns. We intended to investigate the use of the recommended screening tests for colorectal cancer detection in a sample of average-risk subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study with random selection of participants. We included 953 average-risk consecutive participants of a colorectal cancer-screening program who fulfilled a questionnaire to determine their previous use of diagnostic procedures for colorectal cancer detection, use with screening intention and use in the recommended intervals. RESULTS: In total 44% individuals were aware of any screening test for colorectal cancer. A recommended test had ever been received by 13%, but in less than 1% the indication was screening. Use of procedures for colorectal cancer detection was scarce compared with those for breast cancer detection (95%) and prostate cancer detection (47%). Use of a recent colorectal cancer procedure was also lower (8%) than a breast cancer (81%) or prostate cancer procedure (28%). CONCLUSION: Use of colorectal cancer screening and compliance of the recommended guidelines seems suboptimal in the Spanish population. Efforts are warranted for increasing colorectal cancer screening in this population.
Authors: Martin C S Wong; Hoyee W Hirai; Arthur K C Luk; Thomas Y T Lam; Jessica Y L Ching; Sian M Griffiths; Francis K L Chan; Joseph J Y Sung Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-04-03 Impact factor: 3.240