Providers role in colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer

To examine predictors of provider recommendations for colorectal cancer (CRC).

We examined proportions of patients without prior screening for colonoscopy and their willingness to get a colonoscopy if recommended by a healthcare provider.

The rate of CRC screening with a colonoscopy within the recommended guidelines was 35%; provider recommendation rate for colonoscopy screening was 34.9%; and never-screened patients would receive a colonoscopy 78% when recommended by a provider. Provider recommendation was the best predictor for receiving a screening colonoscopy (OR 4.19; 95% CI, 1.91-9.22, p < .01).

Physician recommendation for colonoscopy is the most effective strategy to promote screening colonoscopy in the US, but only one third of eligible patients recall such counseling.