Cancer screening in women by internal medicine resident physicians.
BACKGROUND
Research suggests that women may not have consistent cancer surveillance.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of internal medicine resident physicians' screening methods for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer of women aged 50 or older.


RESULTS
Resident physicians did breast examinations in 39.1%, mammography in 37.3%, Pap smears in 32.7%, rectal examinations in 37.3%, fecal occult blood testing in 39.1%, and flexible sigmoidoscopy in 11.8% of the women. They instructed 3.6% to do breast self-examination. There was no statistically significant difference in the breast or cervical cancer screening based on patient race, insurance type, or sex of physician. Female physicians did more rectal examinations and fecal occult blood testing than male physicians. There was no statistically significant difference in colorectal cancer surveillance based on physician race or insurance status.


CONCLUSIONS
We need to increase cancer screening in women. Assessment of the impact of the sex of the physician on cancer surveillance needs to be further evaluated.
Borum
M L
ML
George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012007:Rectum; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People; D016387:Women's Health; D001741:Black or African American