[How do Doctors Manage Their Own Colorectal Cancer Screening and What Do They Recommend Their Patients? - Results of a Survey Under General Physicians and Internists].

INTRODUCTION: Screening programs efficiently reduce incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer. Participation rates in Germany are still relatively low. By knowing how doctors manage their own colorectal cancer screening provides information how they estimate the potential of these strategies and what they recommend their patients.
METHOD: A postal survey was conducted with 450 general physicians and internists aged above 50 years and registered at the KV Unterfranken. They received a questionnaire asking for their personal data, their own colorectal cancer screening and their attitude towards this topic and their patients.
RESULTS: Based on 237 questionnaires received, 72 % of the doctors had undergone cancer screening. 81 % decided for colonoscopy. Convinced of the benefit of colorectal cancer screening 90 % of the respondents actively recommend their patients to participate screning programs. 88 % advise to undergo colonoscopy.
CONCLUSION: A high percentage of physicians undergo colorectal cancer screening. Their high participation rate can be used as an additional motivating factor in colorectal cancer prevention campaigns. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.