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Fear, embarrassment deter colorectal cancer screening
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 28, 2012
Older patients who refuse colorectal cancer screening are much likelier to fear the procedure and may need reassurance from their physicians, said a study in the May/June issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Patients who feared embarrassment, pain or exposure to HIV during a colonoscopy were three to 10 times less likely to want to receive the screening, said the survey of nearly 500 adults 50 and older (link).
Patients with no college education also were likelier to avoid screening, the study found. More should be done to educate patients about the actual risks involved in testing, and doctors should explain colonoscopy and dispel any misconceptions patients may have, the study authors said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/05/28/prbf0528.htm.
