More Colonoscopies When Patients Given Choice

Despite recommendations from health authorities, it’s been reported that one third of people over 50 years of age do not get colonoscopy screenings for colon cancer. It has also been found that when patients are given a choice between colonoscopy and fecal occult blood test, they are more likely to elect for colonoscopy than those who are directly instructed to obtain a colonoscopy.

A recent study reveals that when people are given a choice as to which colon cancer screening they should get, 69% chose colonoscopy. Only 38% of those who were advised to have a colonoscopy had the screening and 67% choose the fecal occult blood test when it was the only suggestion from their doctors.

The way this new study shows, colonoscopy appears to be a less desirable screening method mainly due to the fact that it is expensive, invasive and very inconvenient. The fecal occult blood test is a simpler way with less expense though it can be cumbersome.

The study showed that if patients do not undergo colonoscopy, then more will develop colon cancer.  This is particularly true of racial or ethnic minorities.  When white people are given colon cancer screening options, most choose colonoscopy. African-Americans, Asian and Latino typically choose the fecal occult blood test. 31% in these groups opted for colonoscopy while 38% for the simpler screening.

John Inadomi, an author of the recent study, noted this racial divide when it comes to colon cancer screening.  Dr. Inadomi’s team is investigating data on the study group’s attitude about colon cancer screening.  The study group was composed of 997 people who got health care from federal funded clinics in San Francisco.

Dr. Inadomi explains that there is a big difference in how cultures approach disease prevention.  Because of these culture-based beliefs, when it comes to colon cancer screening, he says that colonoscopy is not a solution that everyone will accept thus the patient should be presented with options and to do what the patient wants.

The researchers found out that an opportunity for more colon cancer screenings to be made is possible once people are given options and not immediately asked to get a colonoscopy by their doctors.

Colonoscopy and fecal occult blood test can be able to determine if a patient has colon cancer. They do differ in frequency since colonoscopy can be made every 10 years while fecal occult blood should be made yearly.  A disadvantage of colonoscopy is that it requires a longer preparation time and is invasive.