This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager patientINFORMation Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Meissner, H. I. Articles by Vernon, S. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Meissner, H. I. Articles by Vernon, S. W.

Patterns of Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake among Men and Women in the United States

¹ Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland and ² School of Public Health, University of Texas Houston, Houston, Texas

Requests for reprints: Helen I. Meissner, Applied Cancer Screening Research Branch, Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Executive Plaza North, Room 4102, 6130 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7331, Bethesda, MD 20892-7331. Phone: 301-435-2836; Fax: 301-480-6637. E-mail: hm36d{at}nih.gov

Objective: The purpose of this report is to examine (a) gender-specific correlates of colorectal cancer test use using recent national data from 2003 and (b) patterns of colorectal cancer screening by gender and test modality over time.

Methods: We analyze data from the 1987, 1992, 1998, 2000, and 2003 National Health Interview Surveys. Our sample consists of men and women 50 years never diagnosed with colorectal cancer and who reported a recent fecal occult blood test and/or endoscopy.

Results: In 2003, both men and women reported higher rates of colonoscopy (32.2% and 29.8%, respectively) than use of FOBT (16.1% and 15.3%, respectively) or sigmoidoscopy (7.6% and 5.9%, respectively). Men reported higher use of endoscopy than women if they had a usual source of health care, had talked to a general doctor, and had two to five visits to the doctor in the past year. Men and women 65 years and older had higher rates of any recommended colorectal cancer test (55.8% and 48.5%, respectively) than persons 50 to 64 years (males, 41.0%; females, 31.4%). Use of colorectal cancer tests also was higher among both genders if they were not Hispanic, had higher educational attainment, were former smokers, had health insurance or a usual source of care, or if they talked to a general doctor. Recent use of colorectal cancer tests has increased since 2000 for both women and men largely due to increased use of colonoscopy.

Conclusions: Colorectal cancer testing is increasing for both men and women, although the prevalence of testing remains higher in men. Our data support previous findings documenting socioeconomic disparities in colorectal cancer test use. Access barriers to screening could be particularly difficult to overcome if colonoscopy becomes the preferred colorectal cancer screening modality. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(2):389–94)

Find additional patient-related information at:

Colon Cancer Screening Rates on the Upswing

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Lance Colorectal Cancer Screening: Confusion Reigns Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., September 1, 2008; 17(9): 2205 - 2207. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. McQueen, J. A. Tiro, and S. W. Vernon Construct Validity and Invariance of Four Factors Associated with Colorectal Cancer Screening across Gender, Race, and Prior Screening Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., September 1, 2008; 17(9): 2231 - 2237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. K. Shokar, C. A. Carlson, and S. C. Weller Factors Associated with Racial/Ethnic Differences in Colorectal Cancer Screening J Am Board Fam Med, September 1, 2008; 21(5): 414 - 426. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Maxwell, L. L. Danao, C. M. Crespi, C. Antonio, G. M. Garcia, and R. Bastani Disparities in the Receipt of Fecal Occult Blood Test versus Endoscopy among Filipino American Immigrants Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., August 1, 2008; 17(8): 1963 - 1967. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Crawley, D. K. Ahn, and M. A. Winkleby Perceived Medical Discrimination and Cancer Screening Behaviors of Racial and Ethnic Minority Adults Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., August 1, 2008; 17(8): 1937 - 1944. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Shapiro, L. C. Seeff, T. D. Thompson, M. R. Nadel, C. N. Klabunde, and S. W. Vernon Colorectal Cancer Test Use from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., July 1, 2008; 17(7): 1623 - 1630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. F. Jerant, J. J. Fenton, and P. Franks Determinants of Racial/Ethnic Colorectal Cancer Screening Disparities Arch Intern Med, June 23, 2008; 168(12): 1317 - 1324. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.-N. Gao, C. I. Neutel, and E. Wai Gender differences in colorectal cancer incidence, mortality, hospitalizations and surgical procedures in Canada J. Public Health Med., June 1, 2008; 30(2): 194 - 201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Levin, D. A. Lieberman, B. McFarland, R. A. Smith, D. Brooks, K. S. Andrews, C. Dash, F. M. Giardiello, S. Glick, T. R. Levin, et al. Screening and Surveillance for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Adenomatous Polyps, 2008: A Joint Guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology CA Cancer J Clin, May 1, 2008; 58(3): 130 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Smith, V. Cokkinides, and O. W. Brawley Cancer Screening in the United States, 2008: A Review of Current American Cancer Society Guidelines and Cancer Screening Issues CA Cancer J Clin, May 1, 2008; 58(3): 161 - 179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. W. Vernon, J. A. Tiro, R. W. Vojvodic, S. Coan, P. M. Diamond, A. Greisinger, and M. E. Fernandez Reliability and Validity of a Questionnaire to Measure Colorectal Cancer Screening Behaviors: Does Mode of Survey Administration Matter? Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., April 1, 2008; 17(4): 758 - 767. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Fiscella and K. Holt Impact of Primary Care Patient Visits on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Preventive Care in the United States J Am Board Fam Med, November 1, 2007; 20(6): 587 - 597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Glanz, A. D. Steffen, and L. A. Taglialatela Effects of Colon Cancer Risk Counseling for First-Degree Relatives Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., July 1, 2007; 16(7): 1485 - 1491. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. McQueen, S. W. Vernon, R. E. Myers, B. G. Watts, E. S. Lee, and B. C. Tilley Correlates and Predictors of Colorectal Cancer Screening among Male Automotive Workers Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., March 1, 2007; 16(3): 500 - 509. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Smith, V. Cokkinides, and H. J. Eyre Cancer Screening in the United States, 2007: A Review of Current Guidelines, Practices, and Prospects CA Cancer J Clin, March 1, 2007; 57(2): 90 - 104. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. J. Meropol and K. A. Schulman Cost of Cancer Care: Issues and Implications J. Clin. Oncol., January 10, 2007; 25(2): 180 - 186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Denberg, J. M. Coombes, T. E. Byers, A. C. Marcus, L. E. Feinberg, J. F. Steiner, and D. J. Ahnen Effect of a Mailed Brochure on Appointment-Keeping for Screening Colonoscopy: A Randomized Trial Ann Intern Med, December 19, 2006; 145(12): 895 - 900. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]