Barriers to colorectal cancer screening: inadequate knowledge by physicians.
BACKGROUND
The rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening remains relatively low. One potential barrier to higher rates is the lack of physician knowledge regarding CRC screening. The purpose of this study was to assess physicians' knowledge of (a) American Cancer Society (ACS) CRC screening guidelines for average-risk and high-risk patients, and (b) general colorectal cancer facts which support these guidelines.


METHODS
We administered a questionnaire to internal medicine residents, internal medicine attendings and medical students who provide care to patients in a low-income, predominantly minority community, to compare their levels of knowledge regarding CRC screening. Mean knowledge scores were calculated based on the number of correct responses.


RESULTS
Knowledge of ACS guidelines for average-risk patients was low, although it did increase directly with level of training: medical students obtained a mean score of 32%, residents 49%, and attendings 56% (p<0.001). Knowledge scores for high-risk patients were even lower, with fewer than half of the respondents offering correct answers. Mean knowledge scores of general CRC screening facts increased with level of training: medical students scored 31%, residents 38% and attendings 42% (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of CRC screening guidelines for both average- and high-risk patients was suboptimal among the medical students, residents and attendings studied. Lack of knowledge about CRC is one barrier to screening that may contribute to underutilization of screening for minority populations. Further educational efforts should be targeted to these health care professionals.
Gennarelli
Melissa
M
Derald H. Ruttenberg Cancer Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One East 100th Street, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Jandorf
Lina
L
Cromwell
Caroline
C
Valdimarsdottir
Heiddis
H
Redd
William
W
Itzkowitz
Steven
S
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D007396:Internship and Residency; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009519:New York City; D009780:Occult Blood; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012307:Risk Factors; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires