title: Perceived risks and benefits of surveillance colonoscopy in people undergoing surveillance for family history of colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine perceived risks and benefits of colonoscopy surveillance among patients undergoing surveillance colonoscopy due to family history of colorectal cancer (CRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a standardised phone interview of 250 randomly selected people who had undergone surveillance colonoscopy at Dunedin Hospital. We assessed perceptions of colonoscopy effectiveness, complication rates, and CRC risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 148 (69%) participants. Most felt well informed about surveillance (66.7%), but many wanted further information (63.2%). Most accurately estimated complication rates (discomfort: Common/Uncommon 70.3%; pain: Rare/Uncommon 58.8%; bleeding: Rare/Uncommon 72.3%; perforation: Very rare 62.8%), and benefits (mean reduction in risk of CRC 72.6% and death 76.2%). Most (55.1%) over-estimated their CRC risk. 13.5% thought perforation never occurred, and 12.8% thought colonoscopy either completely prevented, or had no effect on risk of developing or dying from CRC. Patients giving unrealistic estimates had similar demographics and clinical variables to the wider cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest current surveillance education adequately communicates risks and benefits to most patients. A minority have unrealistic views and further education may be indicated.
authors.affiliation: Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand. michael.schultz@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tarr
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Rhys A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.forename: Jonathan B C
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Ho-Nam
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mohd Hasif B
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Kia M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sii
authors.forename: Sung-Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Dockerty
authors.forename: Iain A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schultz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000523:psychology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment