title: The mediating role of health professionals' recommendation in the uptake of colorectal cancer testing among older Chinese adults.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of health professionals' recommendations on the relationship between the characteristics of older Chinese adults and the use of colorectal cancer testing. This was a cross-sectional population-based telephone survey. A total of 2004 Chinese adults aged 50 or above were recruited between 2 and 28 May 2007 to complete an anonymous telephone survey. The survey covered demographics, perceived health status and susceptibility to cancer, utilization of complementary medicine, family history of cancer, and cancer screening behaviour. The uptake of flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy was 12%, of which only 3.4% had been recommended by health professionals. The effects of gender, a history of serious disease, perceptions related to health status and visiting doctor regularly on the flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy uptake were mediated by a health professional's recommendation. A health professional's recommendation can be a catalyst for the decision of undergoing a colorectal cancer screening test in older adult people, in particular for those who are more health-conscious. As health professionals can play a crucial role in the development of successful population-based colorectal cancer screening program, efforts should be made to facilitate them in making recommendations for colorectal cancer screening to targeted high-risk group.
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
authors.forename: Kai-Chow
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
authors.forename: Helen Yl
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
authors.forename: Dorothy Ns
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
authors.forename: Wendy Wt
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
authors.forename: Carmen Wh
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
authors.forename: Simone Sm
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Karis Kf
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Goggins
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
authors.forename: Ann Ty
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Shiu
authors.affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, China.
authors.forename: Winnie Kw
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: So
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: colorectal cancer tests; health professionals' recommendation; mediation; older adults