Colorectal cancer screening: do they practice what they preach?

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Public Health
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Voluntary colorectal cancer (CRC) screening compliance reported by the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) exceeds 85%.
• This high rate is often attributed to heightened awareness of CRC.
• The study investigates whether increased awareness is the sole driver of observed participation rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare colorectal cancer (CRC) screening compliance between the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia (CSSA) and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS).
• To determine if heightened awareness of CRC adequately explains observed participation rates in screening.
• To identify potential factors influencing screening compliance beyond awareness.

Main Methods:

• A postal survey was conducted among members of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia (CSSA).
• Survey data on screening advocacy, recommended screening strategies, and personal screening participation were collected.
• Results were compared with previously reported data from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS).

Main Results:

• The CSSA survey achieved a 65% response rate.
• While 94% of CSSA members support CRC screening, only 25% reported participating, significantly lower than the 55% reported by ASCRS (P < 0.01).
• CSSA members showed less support for colonoscopy every 10 years compared to ASCRS (31% vs 68%, P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening compliance is significantly higher in the ASCRS compared to the CSSA.
• Heightened awareness of CRC alone is insufficient to explain the disparities in screening compliance.
• Further investigation is needed to understand the barriers and facilitators of CRC screening participation.