title: Motivating factors associated with receipt of asymptomatic colonoscopy screening.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colonoscopy is the preferred screening method for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to identify factors motivating a beneficial health behavior, that is, the decision to complete a colonoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 91 primarily urban minority health care workers who were ineligible for a large randomized controlled trial due to self-reported asymptomatic colonoscopy screening. Participants were asked an open-ended question about what made them get screened. Responses were classified as external or internal motivations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most commonly reported external motivation was a primary care physician's recommendation (n = 60, 65.9%). Other external motivations were familiarity with CRC or polyps through family or work (n = 16, 17.6%) and pressure from relatives or friends (n = 8, 8.8%). Seventeen respondents were deemed self-motivated; these individuals were more likely have income over $50K/year (P < 0.05) and to be US born (P = 0.05); they were more likely to mention being age-appropriate for screening (P < 0.05); knew more people who had colonoscopies (P < 0.001); they were less likely to believe that most of the age-appropriate population in New York City has been screened (P < 0.01) and less likely to be deterred from colonoscopy by work schedule (P < 0.001) or by having to take a powerful laxative (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A primary care physician's recommendation may be the most prevalent motivating factor in patients' decisions to receive a colonoscopy, but a subgroup seeks CRC screening on their own. Analysis of the motivations of individuals who have sought colonoscopy screening may offer useful insights into motivating those who have not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ 07470, USA.
authors.forename: Corey H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Basch
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Basch
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Randi L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Particia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zybert
keywords: Colon cancer; colonoscopy; screening
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