Self-reported colonoscopy screening in Austria.
In Austria, since the early 1980s, the faecal-occult blood test is freely available within the annual health check-up system (> or =40 years of age/once a year). Since 2005 colonoscopy is recommended by the health authorities as a primary screening tool for asymptomatic persons older than 50 years (every 7-10 years). We report on the prevalence of self-reported participation and frequency of colonoscopy screening in Austrian men and women aged 40-79 years. The data analysed were extracted from a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study conducted in 2005. The study population consisted of 502 men and 553 women, which then was analysed by 10-year age groups. The questionnaire explicitly asked about a screening colonoscopy in asymptomatic persons and not for diagnostic examination in patients with symptoms. The survey revealed that of men 79.1% (n=397) knew about early detection of colorectal cancer in asymptomatic persons by screening colonoscopy and of women 82.1% (n=454). Of the 502 male respondents, 24.5% (n=123) were screened at least once and 9.8% were screened twice or more. Of the 553 female respondents, 23.7% (n=131) were screened at least once and 8.0% were screened twice or more often. The main location of colonoscopy screening was the hospital (men: 65.1%, women: 74.8%). Approximately a quarter of the respondents reported having had at least one screening colonoscopy. Compared with mammography screening (82%) and prostate cancer screening by digital rectal examination alone or combined with a prostate-specific antigen test (56%) the participation is low.
Department of Epidemiology, Centre of Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. gerald.haidinger@meduniwien.ac.at
Gerald
G
Haidinger
Thomas
T
Waldhoer
Christian
C
Vutuc
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires