A basic audit: knowledge and attitudes of teaching and nonteaching surgeons towards colorectal cancer

In order to determine surgeons' knowledge of colorectal cancer in New Zealand and to see whether this knowledge was related to clinical practice a questionnaire was sent to all general surgeons on the New Zealand Medical Register. One hundred and twenty-three responses were received and analysed. Surgeons involved in student teaching had a better knowledge of this cancer than their nonteaching colleagus. There was a significant association between knowledge and attitudes towards screening, polyp removal and occult blood testing.