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Adherence with colorectal cancer screening guidelines: a review
Sujha Subramanian1, Michelle Klosterman, Mayur M Amonkar
1RTI, International, USA. ssubramanian@rti.org
Preventive Medicine
|April 7, 2004
Summary
Colorectal cancer screening rates remain low, with only 34% adherence in 2000. Positive attitudes and physician recommendations boost screening, while fear and fatalism decrease it.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is crucial for early detection and mortality reduction.
- Significant gaps exist in patient adherence to recommended CRC screening guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current colorectal cancer screening rates.
- To identify factors influencing patient utilization and adherence to screening tests.
- To explore physician recommendation patterns and their impact on screening.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of US studies on average-risk individuals.
- Searched Medline, CancerLit, and PsycInfo for adherence data.
- Analyzed utilization rates, patient/physician predictors, and test type correlations.
Main Results:
- In 2000, only 34% of the US population met recommended screening intervals.
- Positive attitudes and physician recommendations correlate with high adherence.
- Fear of cancer and fatalistic beliefs are associated with low adherence.
- Physician specialty influences test recommendations; patient adherence is not a consistent barrier to physician recommendation.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed on adherence differences between screening modalities.
- Investigating the impact of patient preferences on adherence is essential.
- Strategies to foster the physician-patient relationship may improve screening rates.