title: Knowledge and perception toward colorectal cancer screening in east of Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in Iran and its early detection is necessary. This study is based on perception of people in the east of Iran toward CRC screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, 1060 randomly selected individuals who referred to Razavi Hospital of Mashhad, Iran, between September the 1(st), 2012 and February the 28(th), 2013 as patients or their visitors involved in an interview to fill a questionnaire on CRC screening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants' age ranged from 40 to 88 years (mean= 55). More than 90% had no knowledge of CRC and screening tests. The most cited reasons for not having screening tests were "did not have any problem" and "did not think it was needed". Although, older people had more knowledge of CRC (P= 0.033), there was no relationship between gender, health insurance status, family history of individuals and their knowledge about CRC (P> 0.050). Employment, education and higher income had positive effect on the perception of people toward CRC screening (P< 0.050).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of knowledge in people in lower socio-economical class with limited literacy is the most important barrier to CRC screening. As such, designing educational programs involving physicians and media is important to improve CRC screening rates.
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bidouei
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdolhosseini
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jafarzadeh
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Azra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izanloo
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghaffarzadehgan
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdolhosseini
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khoshroo
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaziri
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Toktam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tourdeh
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Department, Razavi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hami
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashraf
keywords: Colorectal Neoplasms; Early Detection of Cancer; East of Iran; Knowledge