BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer related morbidity and death. Despite the fact that the mean age at diagnosis of CRC is lower in men, screening by colonoscopy or fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is initiated at same age in both genders. The prevalence of the common CRC precursor lesion, advanced adenoma, is well documented only in the screening population....

BACKGROUND Cancer screening is a behavior that represents investment in future health. Such investment may depend on how much 'future' a person expects. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the prospective association between perceived personal life expectancy and participation in fecal occult blood test screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) in a national program. METHODS Da...

BACKGROUND Despite evidence that several colorectal cancer (CRC) screening strategies can reduce CRC mortality, screening rates remain low. This study aimed to determine whether the approach by which screening is recommended influences adherence. METHODS We used a cluster randomization design with clinic time block as the unit of randomization. Persons at average risk for development of CRC i...

BACKGROUND In the United States, older adults have low rates of follow-up colonoscopy after a positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT) result. The long-term outcomes of these real world practices and their associated benefits and burdens are unknown. METHODS Longitudinal cohort study of 212 patients 70 years or older with a positive FOBT result at 4 Veteran Affairs (VA) facilities in 2001 and ...

BACKGROUND Testing stool for occult blood at the time of digital rectal examination (DRE) has been discouraged because it is thought to increase the number of false-positive test results. OBJECTIVE To compare the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy and the cost per cancer detected in asymptomatic patients with a positive fecal occult blood test result obtained by DRE with that obtained from spont...

Veterans with disabilities are at an increased risk of secondary impairments and may have difficulty accessing preventive services; accessibility may differ between Veterans who do and do not receive care at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. We used data from the 2003 and 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys to evaluate associations between disability and receip...

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the published literature on adherence to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and sigmoidoscopy. Specifically, the review addresses the following: 1) prevalence of FOBT and sigmoidoscopy; 2) interventions to increase adherence to FOBT and sigmoidoscopy; 3) correlates or predictors of adherence to FOBT and sigmoidoscop...

BACKGROUND To estimate the association between body-mass index (BMI: kg/m2) and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among US adults aged >or= 50 years. METHODS Population-based data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Adults (N = 84,284) aged >or= 50 years were classified by BMI as normal weight (18.5-<25), overweight (25-<30), obesity class I (30-<35), obesity class II (3...

PURPOSE To determine whether use of regular aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is a risk factor for a false-positive fecal occult blood test result. METHODS Consecutive patients referred for colonoscopy for a positive fecal occult blood test result at a Veterans Affairs hospital were eligible. Patients with hematochezia, peptic ulcer disease, or unevaluated dyspepsia req...