Colorectal Cancer Screening: Role of Family Physicians

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gastroenterology
• Rural Medicine

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is crucial for early detection and prevention.
• Access to screening services can be a barrier in rural communities.
• Awareness of CRC screening guidelines varies based on local healthcare accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare colorectal cancer screening awareness between two rural Texas communities with differing access to local screening procedures.
• To identify factors influencing CRC screening awareness in rural populations.

Main Methods:

• A survey based on the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) was administered to 168 participants aged 50+ in Clifton and Haskell, Texas.
• Participants were patients of local primary care clinics for at least one year.
• Data analysis focused on comparing screening awareness, knowledge of screening age, and history of colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy between the two communities.

Main Results:

• Clifton, with local screening access, demonstrated significantly higher odds ratios for overall CRC screening awareness (OR=3.61), knowledge of appropriate screening age (OR=2.50), and prior screening history (OR=3.61) compared to Haskell.
• These findings were statistically significant, indicating a clear difference in awareness linked to local availability of services.

Conclusions:

• Providing local colorectal cancer screening services, including colonoscopies, within rural communities by family medicine physicians enhances patient awareness and uptake of screening.
• Local accessibility of screening procedures is a key factor in improving adherence to CRC screening guidelines in rural settings.