Attitudes and beliefs of primary care physicians regarding prostate and colorectal cancer screening in a rural state.
BACKGROUND
Screening for prostate cancer (PC) is paradoxically more prevalent than for colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
Primary care physicians (PCPs) in Vermont were surveyed concerning PC and CRC screening.


RESULTS
Aggressive screening for PC and CRC remains widespread. PCPs reported that they controlled screening decisions for the majority of their patients. A belief that evidence favored PC screening for no patients was associated with less aggressive screening for PC as well as CRC.


CONCLUSIONS
Aggressive screening behavior is frequent, physician-driven and correlates with physician beliefs. Better education of PCPs is the key to changing screening behavior.
Philips
George K
GK
Hematology-Oncology Unit, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vermont 05401, USA. george.philips@vtmednet.org
Reinier
Kyndaron
K
Ashikaga
Takamaru
T
Luebbers
Robert A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D051517:Digital Rectal Examination; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012423:Rural Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014707:Vermont / Q000453:epidemiology
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen