Does age influence screening for colorectal cancer?

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether patients' age influenced colorectal cancer screening by internal medicine resident physicians in an ambulatory care clinic. METHODS A retrospective chart review of 200 patients aged >50 years to assess the performance of rectal examinations, faecal occult blood testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy. RESULTS Physicians performed rectal examinations in 21 patients 10.5%, faecal occult blood testing in 85 (42.5%) and flexible sigmoidoscopies in 95 (47.5%). Significantly more rectal examinations were performed in patients aged 50-60 years than in patients aged 61-70 years (P < 0.005) or > or = 71 years (P < 0.00002). There was significantly more faecal occult blood testing in patients aged 50-60 years than in those aged > or = 71 years (P < 0.02). In women, there were more rectal examinations in those aged 50-60 years than in those aged 61-70 years (P < 0.05) or > or = 71 years (P < 0.008). Men aged 61-70 years had more rectal examinations than men aged > or = 71 years (P < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Colorectal cancer screening is performed less often in older patients attending a hospital for health maintenance evaluation. Chronological age alone should not determine whether physicians screen for colorectal cancer.