title: Poor health among smokers obtaining colonoscopy screening: making the case for cessation intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess differences in perceived health status among individuals receiving colonoscopy screening based on smoking status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data were collected as part of a larger study investigating whether verbal and non-verbal communication and behaviors of gastroenterologists and nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this study were collected between 2011 and 2013 among receiving colonoscopy screenings. Data were collected as part of a study assessing patients (n = 1785) undergoing colonoscopy screenings about their expectations, concerns, understanding of the procedure, and perceived health status. Differences between current, former and never smokers were analyzed using a one-way between subjects ANOVA, with a Scheffe post hoc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post hoc analyses revealed that current smokers were significantly different from former or never smokers on the following variables: days their physical health was not good, days their mental health was not good, days health influenced their activities, days pain influenced their ability to perform activities, perceived general health, and current anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study looked at perceived health among individuals receiving colonoscopy screening by on smoking status, a relevant population based on the recent Surgeon Generals link. Former smokers reported similar health status across all variables as never smokers, suggesting the effect of quitting smoking on self-perceived health. With this link, tailored smoking cessation messages to smokers receiving colonoscopy screenings may be an excellent vantage point for a smoking cessation intervention.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, USA. Electronic address: jessking@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pomeranz
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, USA.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: King-Marshall
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Curbow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation
keywords: Cancer prevention; Colorectal cancer; Health status; Smoking cessation