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Improving rates for screening colonoscopy: Analysis of the health information national trends survey (HINTS I) data

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Abstract

Background

Colonoscopy is an effective modality for colorectal cancer screening. The objectives of this study were to identify colorectal cancer knowledge and barriers to screening colonoscopy in the general US population.

Methods

Data was obtained from the health information national trends survey (HINTS I). The dataset (n = 6369) examined the influence of age, race, gender, education, income, media usage, and interactions with health care providers on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding colonoscopic screening for colorectal cancer.

Results

The term ‘colonoscopy’ was recognized by 80% of participants (over the age of 35), however only 35% of respondents perceived it as a major method for colon cancer screening. Hispanics had the least awareness of colonoscopic screening (16% versus 39% non-Hispanic). Female gender, education, and income all correlated with knowledge and use of colonoscopic screening. There was a positive correlation between media usage and having a colonoscopy (r = 0.095, p < 0.01). Having a health care provider was strongly correlated with having undergone a colonoscopy (r = 0.249, p < 0.01). Reasons for not having a colonoscopy were ‘no reason’ (29%), ‘doctor didn’t order it’ (24%), and ‘didn’t know I needed the test’ (15%). Personalized materials were the preferred media for receiving cancer-related information.

Conclusions

Knowledge of and participation in screening colonoscopy is low in the US population, especially among Hispanics. The most important immediate action is to increase physician referral for screening colonoscopy. Education materials focused on specific sociodemographic segments and targeted communication campaigns need to be developed to encourage screening.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of General Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA

    Timothy M. Geiger, Brent W. Miedema, Klaus Thaler & Nitin J. Rangnekar

  2. School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Kansas, Kansas, Missouri, USA

    Mugur V. Geana

  3. School of Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri, USA

    Glen T. Cameron

  4. Department of General Surgery, University Of Missouri Health Care, One Hospital Drive, 4th floor McHaney Hall, MC 422, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA

    Brent W. Miedema

Authors
  1. Timothy M. Geiger
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  2. Brent W. Miedema
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  3. Mugur V. Geana
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  4. Klaus Thaler
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  5. Nitin J. Rangnekar
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  6. Glen T. Cameron
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brent W. Miedema.

Appendix 1. Colorectal cancer knowledge questions.

Appendix 1. Colorectal cancer knowledge questions.

  1. 1.

    How likely are you to get colon cancer?

  2. 2.

    Compared to an average person, how likely are you to get colon cancer?

  3. 3.

    How often do you worry about getting colon cancer?

  4. 4.

    What tests detect colon cancer?

  5. 5.

    Have you ever heard of a stool blood test?

  6. 6.

    In the last year, has a doctor advised you to have a home stool blood test?

  7. 7.

    Have you every done a stool blood test at home?

  8. 8.

    When was your most recent home stool blood test?

  9. 9.

    Before the most recent, when was your last home stool blood test?

  10. 10.

    Any reason why you have not had a home stool blood test?

  11. 11.

    Have you thought about having another stool blood test?

  12. 12.

    Do you plan to have another stool blood test?

  13. 13.

    When do you expect to have another home stool blood test?

  14. 14.

    What age should people start having home stool blood tests?

  15. 15.

    Once people start, how often should they have home stool blood tests?

  16. 16.

    Specify how often people should have home stool blood tests?

  17. 17.

    Ever heard of sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy?

  18. 18.

    Ever had a sigmoidoscopy?

  19. 19.

    Ever had a colonoscopy?

  20. 20.

    Were you ever advised to have a sigmoidoscopy?

  21. 21.

    Were you every advised to have a colonoscopy?

  22. 22.

    When was your most recent sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy?

  23. 23.

    Before the most recent, when was your last sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy?

  24. 24.

    Any reason why you have not had a sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy?

  25. 25.

    Have you thought about having another sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy?

  26. 26.

    Do you plan to get another sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy?

  27. 27.

    When do you expect to have another sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy?

  28. 28.

    At what age are people supposed to start having sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy?

  29. 29.

    Once they start, how often is it recommended to have a sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy?

  30. 30.

    Arranging to get tested for colon cancer would be easy?

  31. 31.

    Are you afraid of finding colon cancer if you got checked?

  32. 32.

    Do regular colon checks increase the chances of finding treatable cancer?

  33. 33.

    Getting checked for colon cancer is too expensive?

  34. 34.

    What age is the highest risk for colon cancer?

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Geiger, T.M., Miedema, B.W., Geana, M.V. et al. Improving rates for screening colonoscopy: Analysis of the health information national trends survey (HINTS I) data. Surg Endosc 22, 527–533 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-007-9673-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-007-9673-2

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