AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PERCEIVED BARRIERS AND STRATEGIES TO PROMOTING EARLY DETECTION OF COLORECTAL CANCER: A PRACTITIONERS' PERSPECTIVE

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer in the United States. Of the kinds of cancers that can be detected early, it is the only type of cancer that has not shown a decrease in mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to gather information on the perceived barriers to screening for CRC from a primary health care professionals' perspective and to compile a list of suggested strategies to reduce these barriers in Tompkins County, New York. A series of structured group meetings was conducted using a Nominal Group Process (NGP) method for data collection. The most common perceived barriers were (in descending order of importance) reluctance because of fear and/or embarrassment, cost, lack of knowledge, denial, lack of providers' support, and insufficient time. The important suggested strategies to promote screening were community education, health practitioners' support, reduction of cost, better screening, providing time, and social support.