title: Public awareness of risk factors and screening for colorectal cancer in Europe.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the commonest site for malignancy in Europe. The Commissioner for Health wishes to promote screening for colorectal, breast and cervical cancer in Europe. The aim of this study was to assess public knowledge of CRC in Europe and likely take up of free screening. To this end 20710 members of the public from 21 European countries were interviewed by means of a regular survey amongst consumers (Omnibus survey) using 13 stem questions. Forty-eight per cent thought the population were at equal risk of CRC, only 57% were aware of age and 54% of family history as risk factors. Although 70% were aware of dietary factors, only 30% knew that lack of exercise might be a risk factor. Only 51% had knowledge of CRC screening but 75% were 'very', or 'quite interested, in taking up faecal occult blood (FOB) screening if offered free. Barriers to screening were lack of awareness of risk (31%), youth (22%) and an un-anaesthetic test (19%). There was a big cultural difference in willingness of the public to discuss bowel symptoms: there was a major barrier in Finland (91%), Britain (84%), Luxembourg (82%), Poland (81%) and Portugal (80%); less of a barrier in Spain (49%), Italy (44%) and Iceland (39%). In conclusion, the challenge of achieving high compliance for CRC screening must be a major objective amongst EU member states and non-aligned countries of Europe in the next decade, because it is known that the non-compliant group are those at greatest risk of death from CRC. This study has shown that awareness of CRC is low in Europe and that an educational programme will be essential to achieve high compliance for CRC screening as a means of reducing deaths from bowel cancer.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK. Michael.keighley@uhb.nhs.uk
authors.forename: M R B
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Keighley
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Morain
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giacosa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashorn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burroughs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crespi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delvaux
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faivre
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hagenmuller
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lamy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manger
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pehrsson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires