title: Public awareness of colorectal cancer and screening in a Spanish population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate screening intentions and previous uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests in a general population in Spain; and to determine knowledge about CRC, risk perceptions, major barriers to screening and perceived benefits of screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred consecutive Spanish individuals over 50 years of age completed a questionnaire to determine their screening intentions, previous CRC diagnostic procedures, and knowledge about screening procedures, risk factors for CRC, 5-year prognosis, warning signs and symptoms, incidence, age-related risk and perceived barriers to screening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although 78.8% of subjects reported that they were willing to participate in CRC screening, only 12% had ever undergone a screening test, and none with screening intention. Awareness of a breast cancer screening test [odds ratio (OR) 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-2.70; P = 0.035], visiting a general practitioner in the preceding year (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.86-5.08; P < 0.0001), awareness of risk factors (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.49-3.61; P < 0.001), awareness of CRC signs or symptoms (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.03-2.64; P = 0.04) and belief in the efficacy of CRC screening (OR 8.85, 95% CI 1.53-51.3; P = 0.01) were independent predictors for intention to participate in CRC screening. The most common reasons given for refusing screening were 'CRC tests might be dangerous' (28.2%), 'CRC tests might be painful' (17.9%) and 'feeling healthy' (16.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although reported willingness to undergo CRC screening was high, CRC knowledge and actual uptake of CRC screening were low. An educational intervention to reduce barriers and increase awareness could improve uptake of CRC screening.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Ofra s/n,38320 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. gastrohuc@gmail.com
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Gimeno-García
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicolás-Pérez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Sosa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires