CRC Screening Results: Patient Comprehension and Follow-up

Overview

Journal Cancer Control

Specialty Oncology

Date 2019 Feb 2

PMID 30704290

Citations 3

Authors

Revital Azulay

Liora Valinsky

Fabienne Hershkowitz

Racheli Magnezi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background:: Fecal occult blood tests are recommended for colorectal cancer screening, but are only effective if colonoscopy follows positive results. Patients with positive results often do not complete follow-up. This study examined the association between patient comprehension and adherence to colonoscopy after positive FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test).

Methods:: Five hundred twenty-two patients completed a telephone questionnaire regarding the FIT and its implications 120 days after a positive result. Patients were asked whether they had the test, received the results, and required follow-up. These questions were used to identify the degree to which patients understood medical information. A participant who answered "no" to any question was defined as having "low comprehension" regarding the FIT, and participants who answered "yes" to all 3 questions, as having "high comprehension".

Results:: Comprehension and colonoscopy adherence were significantly associated. Adherence to colonoscopy was significantly higher among participants with high comprehension, after adjusting for gender, age, education, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.

Conclusions:: This study demonstrates a link between health comprehension and patient follow-up after positive FIT and contributes to understanding the implications of health comprehension in terms of health promotion. We recommend patients undergoing screening tests receive clear explanations regarding need for follow-up of positive results thus reducing health disparities associated with health comprehension.

Citing Articles

Incidence and Dynamics of CRC Stage Migration: A Regional vs. a National Analysis.

Faris C, Cuaranta A, Abdelmasseh M, Finley R, Payne B, Gorka A Cancers (Basel). 2024; 16(19).

PMID: 39409867 PMC: 11482524. DOI: 10.3390/cancers16193245.

Translational Research in Cancer Screening: Long-Term Population-Action Bridges to Diffuse Adherence.

Hagoel L, Rennert G, Neter E Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(15).

PMID: 34360176 PMC: 8345519. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157883.

Barriers to completing colonoscopy after a positive fecal occult blood test.

Azulay R, Valinsky L, Hershkowitz F, Elran E, Lederman N, Kariv R Isr J Health Policy Res. 2021; 10(1):11.

PMID: 33573698 PMC: 7879608. DOI: 10.1186/s13584-021-00444-2.

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