title: Assessment of family history of colorectal cancer in primary care: perceptions of first degree relatives of people with colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  First degree relatives (FDRs) of someone with colorectal cancer (CRC) are at increased risk of the disease. In this study we examine the factors associated with discussing family history of CRC with a health professional.
  
  
  METHODS
  People with CRC, recruited through the population-based Victorian Cancer Registry in Australia, were asked to refer FDRs to the study. Eight hundred and nineteen FDRs completed a telephone interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six percent of FDRs recalled ever being asked about their family history of bowel cancer by a health professional. Factors associated with having this discussion were being aged 50-60 years, having a university education, being in the potentially high risk category, being very worried about getting bowel cancer and knowing that family history increases risk through discussions with family, friends or their own education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite evidence that doctor endorsement is a key factor in the uptake of CRC screening, our study shows that the majority of FDRs do not recall being asked by a health professional about their family history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need to identify the most appropriate method to improve rates of health professional discussion of family history with relatives of CRC patients in order to improve screening rates.
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
authors.forename: Shiho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia. Electronic address: mariko.carey@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011159:Population Surveillance; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone
keywords: Bowel cancer; Colorectal cancer; Family history of cancer; First degree relatives; Primary care