Factors associated with patients' decision on colorectal cancer screening

Cancer prevention and control are critical public health concerns. However, the screening uptake and referral rate for colorectal cancer (CRC) in Taiwan remain low. This study focused on the factors influencing whether a patient with a CRC diagnosis chooses to undergo referral follow-up. A cross-sectional research and used the Health Belief Model was method applied in this study. Variables such as demographic factors, CRC diagnosis-related knowledge factors, and health belief factors were employed to investigate the decisive factors that affect the health behavior of patients diagnosed with CRC who test positive on the fecal occult blood test. Study identified prospective participants in Daliao District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan aged 50 to 75 years. A structured questionnaire was administered to the individuals, and 200 responded. The questionnaires of 100 who went for a referral group and 80 who did not a nonreferral group were analyzed. The questionnaire was reliable and valid, as determined through an expert evaluation and pretest, respectively. Among the 200 participants, T test indicated that those who underwent a referral were significantly more likely to be younger (Age [Mean +/- SD] n: 62.7, 7.1%; Unreferred group: n: 65.1, 7.0%; Referred group: n:60.7, 6.6%; P <= .001), be more educated (P = .002), exercise more (P < .05), and have more family members with cancer (P = .001) or CRC (P < .05). Participants who underwent a referral also had significantly more knowledge (P < .001). Furthermore, those who underwent a referral had significantly perceived greater susceptibility (P < .05), greater benefits (P = .002), and lower barriers (P < .001) of screening; they also received greater encouragement to do so from sources (e.g., clinicians or the media) around them (P = .009). Age, education level, number of family members with cancer or CRC, exercise habits, knowledge of CRC, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and encouragement from others influence referral behavior. Government policy should focus on older patients and health education, especially in the mass media. Hospitals should also ensure the ease of referrals to lower perceived barriers.

Automated summary

This study found that the main factors influencing referral behavior of CRC patients include age, education level, exercise habits, number of family members with cancer or CRC, knowledge of CRC, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and encouragement from others. Government policy should focus on older patients and health education, especially in mass media, while hospitals should ensure the ease of referrals to reduce perceived barriers.