Research article
A survey of individual preference for colorectal cancer screening technique
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* Corresponding author: Richard L Nelson altohorn@uic.edu
1 Department of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612 USA
2 Department of Medical Education, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612 USA
BMC Cancer 2004, 4:76 doi:10.1186/1471-2407-4-76
Published: 8 November 2004Abstract
Background
Due to the low participation in colorectal cancer screening, public preference for colorectal cancer screening modality was determined.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was performed of healthy ambulatory adults in a pediatrics primary care office and neighboring church. Overall preference was ranked for each of four colorectal cancer screening modalities: Faecal Occult Blood, Fiberoptic Sigmoidoscopy, Barium Enema and Colonoscopy. Four additional domains of preference also were ranked: suspected discomfort, embarrassment, inconvenience and danger of each exam.
Results
80 surveys were analyzed, 57 of which were received from participants who had experienced none of the screening tests. Fecal Occult Blood Testing is significantly preferred over each other screening modality in overall preference and every domain of preference, among all subjects and those who had experienced none of the tests.
Conclusions
Efforts to increase public participation in colorectal cancer screening may be more effective if undertaken in the context of public perceptions of screening choices.