[Acceptance of screening colonoscopy in the prevention of colorectal cancer in relation to some demographic factors].
Colorectal cancer is a quite common neoplasm. Screening colonoscopies and polypectomies can decrease the incidence of that neoplasm by 75%. Discovering the most frequent reasons and most convincing sources of information about the examinations is important for success of screening programme.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to find the connection between some demographic factors, the source of information about the examination and the consent for colonoscopy.


METHODS
Two groups of subjects, aged 40-65, were included: 1000 subjects, who gave their consent for colonoscopy and 200 subjects, who refused the examination. The sources of information were two kinds of questionnaires: fulfilled before colonoscopy and in case of lack of consent for the examination, which included demographic data, the reason of undergoing or refusal of colonoscopy and the source of information about the examination.


RESULTS
The higher educated were the subjects, the more often they agreed for the examination; among subjects after university 87%, and among subjects with elementary education 71% gave their consent for colonoscopy. The most convincing sources of information were the medial sources; 100% of subjects, who found out about the examination from television and radio, gave their consent for colonoscopy. The most frequent reason of undergoing the examination was prophylaxis (54.6%), and the most frequent reasons of refusal was fear of pain (33.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Educational level and the source of information about the examination are the factors that have an important influence on undergoing screening colonoscopy. Identifying the influence of some demographic factors on the consent for colonoscopy and the efficacy of each source of information seems to be very important for the success of screening colonoscopy programme and therefore for discovering adenomatous polyps and colorectal cancer.
Homa
Katarzyna
K
Pomorska Akademia Medyczna, Szczecinie, Klinika Gastroenterologii. kaho5@poczta.onet.pl
Brzosko
Marek
M
Safranow
Krzysztof
K
Marlicz
Krzysztof
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires