Colorectal Cancer Screening: Role of Family Physicians

The purpose of this study was to look at the differences in colorectal cancer screening awareness between two rural communities in Texas. In Clifton, patients have access to colonoscopies in their local hospital, while in Haskell, patients have to travel to a tertiary center. A 24-question survey pertaining to colon cancer from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) was given to patients at primary care clinics in Clifton and Haskell. To take the survey, participants had to have been patients for at least 1 year in either Clifton or Haskell clinic and be at least age 50 years or older. A total of 168 surveys were collected, 92 at Clifton and 76 at Haskell. A higher odds ratio (OR=3.61; CI = [1.11, 11.69]) was seen in Clifton compared with Haskell for patient colon cancer screening awareness. Also, a higher odds ratio (OR=2.50; CI = [1.13, 5.54]) was found of knowing at what age a person should be screened for colon cancer in Clifton compared with Haskell. A higher odds ratio (OR=3.61; CI = [1.42, 9.20]) was seen in Clifton compared with Haskell for patients ever having a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. This study supports the idea that providing colorectal cancer screening and screening procedures locally in the rural community by family medicine physicians helps to contribute to an improved awareness of colorectal cancer screening guidelines as opposed to communities that do not offer screening locally.