Physician and patient influences on the rate of colorectal cancer screening in a primary care clinic.
BACKGROUND
Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates remain low, despite widespread recommendations. The study purpose was to ascertain whether lack of CRC screening is attributable to physicians' failure to address CRC screening or to patients' failure to comply with physician recommendation. This relationship was also examined over time.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of 400 preventive health visits.


RESULTS
Physicians appropriately addressed screening 16.5% of the time during 1998-1999 and 51% of the time during 2002-2003 (P <or= .001). The rate of test completion by patients was 53% in 1998-1999 and 31% in 2002-2003, resulting in completed CRC screening rates of 5% and 16.5%, respectively (P <or= .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Further education is needed, especially to target patient barriers to CRC screening test completion.
Shokar
Navkiran K
NK
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1123, USA. nkshokar@utmb.edu
Carlson
Carol A
CA
Shokar
Gurjeet S
GS
D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011859:Radiography; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data