Socio-demographic correlates of screening intention for colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between socio-demographic factors and screening intention for colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 884 Queenslanders aged 40-80 years was conducted using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing system. The factors measured included socio-demographic characteristics, personal history of CRC, knowledge of others with CRC and perceived symptom status. Chi-squared and Monte Carlo estimates of Fisher Exact Tests were performed to determine the associations between socio-demographic factors and screening intention. In multivariate analyses, multinomial logistic regression (MNLR) was utilised to examine potential determinants of screening intention.


RESULTS
77.5% (95% CI 74.0%-80.7%) of the respondents indicated their intention to participate in CRC screening if it were recommended by their doctor or health authorities. The likelihood ratio chi-squared tests in the MNLR analyses show that age (chi(df = 6)2 = 15.0; p = 0.02), education (chi(df = 8)2 = 19.4; p = 0.01), perceived symptom status (chi(df = 4)2 = 22.9; p = 0.00), sex (chi(df = 2)2 = 4.5; p = 0.11), income (chi(df = 14)2 = 19.6; p = 0.14) and personal history of CRC (chi(df = 2)2 = 4.3; p = 0.12) were potential determinants of screening intention. Other socio-demographic factors, including country of birth, private health insurance status, Socio-economic Index for Areas, and Rural and Remote Areas Classification codes, were not associated with screening intention.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that a variety of socio-demographic factors are associated with screening intention and need to be considered in the future development of a population-based screening program for CRC.
Tong
S
S
Centre for Public Health Research, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059. s.tong@qut.edu.au
Hughes
K
K
Oldenburg
B
B
Del Mar
C
C
Kennedy
B
B
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010358:Patient Participation; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors