DESCRIPTION:
Although an increased susceptibility to colorectal cancer has been
identified in first degree relatives of patients with early onset colorectal
cancer, little is known about acceptance of recommended colorectal cancer
screening among these intermediate risk individuals. For these individuals,
guidelines endorsed by the American Cancer Society and the American
Gastroenterological Association recommend colon cancer screening starting a
decade earlier than average risk individuals, at the age of 40 years. This
purpose of this study is to examine acceptance of colon cancer screening
among individuals at intermediate familial risk, as well as their levels of
knowledge about colon cancer, colon cancer screening (CRC) and the screening
recommendations. The second aim is to develop a greater understanding of
psychological and non-psychological reasons for acceptance of colonoscopy.
This research is guided by a combination of several models of preventive
health behavior: the Health Belief Model, the Transtheoretical Model, and
the Dual Process Model. The Dual Process Model was chosen to address the
role of emotional response to health threats, which is relevant to
individuals at increased risk for cancer because of a family history. The
role of other non-attitudinal factors, including physician influence and
medical history and status, will also be examined. Participants will be 490
siblings of patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum at
Fox Chase Cancer Center or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)
between 1992 and 1995. The study will examine adoption of colon cancer
screening procedures (fecal occult blood testing [FOBT], flexible
sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy), knowledge of screening guidelines, and
knowledge of colorectal cancer, and identify psychological and
non-psychological factors which discriminate between individuals at
different stages of readiness regarding adoption of colonoscopy. Prediction
of compliance with screening guidelines and intention to undergo screening
will also be investigated.
Error Notice
The database may currently be offline for maintenance and should be operational soon. If not, we have been notified of this error and will be reviewing it shortly.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
- The DCCPS Team.
