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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
06:28
E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Colorectal cancer screening by primary care physicians: recommendations and practices, 2006-2007
Carrie N Klabunde1, David Lanier, Marion R Nadel
1Health Services and Economics Branch, Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7344, USA. klabundc@mail.nih.gov
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|May 16, 2009
Summary
U.S. physicians increasingly recommend colonoscopies for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, a shift from previous practices. However, many physicians still do not offer the full range of recommended CRC tests or utilize adequate office systems to support screening.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Preventive Medicine
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Primary care physicians are crucial for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening delivery in the U.S.
- Physician practices and recommendations for CRC screening have evolved.
- This study compares current practices to a 1999-2000 national survey.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe current U.S. physician recommendations and practices for CRC screening.
- To compare these findings with a previous national provider survey.
- To examine office systems supporting CRC screening activities.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1266 physicians in the 2006-2007 National Survey of Primary Care Physicians.
- Descriptive statistics were used to assess screening recommendations, practices, and office systems.
- Sample weights were applied to generate national estimates.
Main Results:
- 95% of physicians recommend screening colonoscopy; 80% recommend fecal occult blood testing (FOBT).
- Sigmoidoscopy performance declined by 25 percentage points since 1999-2000.
- Only 30% of practices use provider reminders and 15% use patient reminders for CRC screening.
Conclusions:
- Physician CRC screening practices have significantly changed, with colonoscopy now predominant.
- Most physicians do not recommend the full spectrum of guideline-recommended CRC tests.
- Deficiencies in office-based systems for supporting CRC screening persist.
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