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Physicians’ Approaches to Recommending Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Qualitative Study

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Abstract

Little is known about strategies that physicians use to encourage receipt of colorectal cancer screening (CRCS). This study conducted focus groups with physicians. Twenty-seven physicians participated in four focus groups. Physicians described four categories of approaches: (1) why screening is important, (2) providing test information, (3) motivational strategies, and (4) tailoring strategies. Participants reported tailoring based on their relationship with a patient, as well as to patient gender, education, and language. Tailoring to cultural background or ethnicity was not prominent. Most physicians reported a typical approach to CRCS and reported some tailoring based on gender, education, and language, but not on ethnicity.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Cancer Institute grant 5R01CA95594.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 1635 Divisadero Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA, 94115-1793, USA

    Judith M. E. Walsh & Leah Karliner

  2. Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Nancy Burke, Linda A. Pham & Rena Pasick

  3. Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA

    Carol P. Somkin

Authors
  1. Judith M. E. Walsh
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  2. Leah Karliner
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  3. Nancy Burke
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  4. Carol P. Somkin
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  5. Linda A. Pham
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  6. Rena Pasick
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Correspondence to Judith M. E. Walsh.

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Walsh, J.M.E., Karliner, L., Burke, N. et al. Physicians’ Approaches to Recommending Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Qualitative Study. J Canc Educ 25, 385–390 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0058-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0058-1

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