Factors Affecting Colorectal Cancer Screening in Primary Care
Author Information
Author(s): Richard K. Zimmerman, Mary Patricia Nowalk, Melissa Tabbarah, Seymour Grufferman
Primary Institution: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Hypothesis
What factors influence the rates of colorectal cancer screening in diverse primary care practices?
Conclusion
Colorectal cancer screening rates were low, but were associated with the number of primary care office visits and immunization status.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 7.5% of patients received annual FOBT screening.
- 53% of patients had ever received FOBT during the study period.
- 22% of patients had ever received endoscopy or barium enema.
Takeaway
This study found that people who visit their doctor more often are more likely to get screened for colorectal cancer, and getting vaccinated might help too.
Methodology
Data were collected from medical records of patients aged ≥64 years from 30 diverse primary care practices.
Potential Biases
The study may not capture screenings done by specialists or hospitals, as only primary care records were reviewed.
Limitations
The study primarily included Caucasian and African American patients, limiting racial diversity.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily aged 64-74 years, mostly Caucasian, with a mix of income levels.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI = .12–.44 for female gender and .12–.19 for age ≥75 years.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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