Colorectal cancer screening awareness in European primary care.
BACKGROUND
Adjustment for stage at diagnosis markedly reduces USA versus European colorectal cancer survival differences and a screening bias was therefore suspected. Moreover, little is known about colorectal cancer screening habits in European primary care and the history of guidelines implementation. The purpose of the study was to index the overall colorectal cancer screening attitudes of European physicians involved in primary care activities.


METHODS
A systematic literature-search was performed in three major medical libraries: PubMed/MEDLINE, ISI web of science, and COCHRANE.


RESULTS
We found only five eligible studies, but valuable data were presented only in four. Colorectal cancer screening was recommended by 65-95% of physicians, but the major part of them implemented it only among high-risk individuals; stool occult blood testing was advised by 42-83% and prescription of screening endoscopic modalities was inconsistent. Most European reports found were not eligible and were mainly focused on diagnostic delay in symptomatic subjects rather than on screening procedures among asymptomatic individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
In comparison with European practice, colorectal cancer screening habits of American physicians are to a greater extent rational, evidence-based and well monitored and have a longer tradition in medical care thus allowing better prevention services for asymptomatic individuals.
Mauri
Davide
D
PACMeR, Section of Public Health, Thoma Pashidi 31, TK 45445 Ioannina, Greece. pacmer_science@yahoo.com
Pentheroudakis
George
G
Milousis
Athanasios
A
Xilomenos
Apostolos
A
Panagoulopoulou
Evaggelia
E
Bristianou
Magdalini
M
Zacharias
Georgios
G
Christidis
Dimitrios
D
Mustou
Evaggelia Aikaterini
EA
Gkinosati
Athanasia
A
Pavlidis
Nicholas
N
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005060:Europe; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*