A survey of individual preference for colorectal cancer screening technique.
BACKGROUND
Due to the low participation in colorectal cancer screening, public preference for colorectal cancer screening modality was determined.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was performed of healthy ambulatory adults in a pediatrics primary care office and neighboring church. Overall preference was ranked for each of four colorectal cancer screening modalities: Faecal Occult Blood, Fiberoptic Sigmoidoscopy, Barium Enema and Colonoscopy. Four additional domains of preference also were ranked: suspected discomfort, embarrassment, inconvenience and danger of each exam.


RESULTS
80 surveys were analyzed, 57 of which were received from participants who had experienced none of the screening tests. Fecal Occult Blood Testing is significantly preferred over each other screening modality in overall preference and every domain of preference, among all subjects and those who had experienced none of the tests.


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to increase public participation in colorectal cancer screening may be more effective if undertaken in the context of public perceptions of screening choices.
Nelson
Richard L
RL
Department of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. altohorn@uic.edu
Schwartz
Alan
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004733:Enema / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009780:Occult Blood; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology
D001466:Barium Sulfate