title: Barriers to screening colonoscopy in an urban population: a study to help focus further efforts to attain full compliance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Awareness of colorectal cancer and decision for colorectal cancer screening is influenced by multiple factors including ethnicity, level of education, and adherence to regular medical follow up.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our survey aimed at assessing barriers to colorectal cancer screening among urban population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a survey of the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was made at a local community in the downtown area of a metropolitan city.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population for this survey included 2000 non-institutionalized residents from local community of Brooklyn downtown area of City of Brooklyn, NY, USA. All participants were 50 years or older.
  
  
  METHODS
  No intervention was done.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey questionnaire collected information about demographic, socioeconomic level, awareness of various cancers and their screening methods, and awareness of screening colonoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Colonoscopy was identified as the best screening test by 31 % of the subjects. Pain and discomfort was the major reason for not having a colonoscopy. The fear of a complication declined significantly after the first colonoscopy but fear of pain and discomfort increased. Difficulty with bowel preparation before a colonoscopy was a significant problem; it discouraged significant number of participants from having another colonoscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is limited by its small sample size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physician/family and peer influence seems important but influencing only a minority of subjects. Fear of complications should be allayed using accurate statistical information. Pain should be significantly diminished and/or eliminated during colonoscopy. Future research should focus to minimize complexity and discomfort associated with bowel preparation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine Elmhurst Hospital Center, 7901 Broadway, Elmhurst, NY, 11373, USA, authorgi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ghevariya
authors.forename: Sushil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duddempudi
authors.forename: Nehal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghevariya
authors.forename: Madhavi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Sury
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anand
mesh_terms: D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*