A poster presented at Digestive Disease Week 2016, May 21 to May 24 in San Diego, showed that primary care physicians and gastroenterologists differ on reasons for recommending surveillance colonoscopy to patients 75 years and older, according to a MedPage Today report.
Researchers surveyed attending gastrointestinal physicians and fellows who were members of the Massachusetts Gastroenterology Association as well as primary care physicians. Thirty gastroenterologists and 88 primary care practitioners participated in the survey.
Here are five findings:
1. Forty-seven percent of the gastroenterologists said the findings on the patient's most recent and prior scopes would be the primary factor in determining whether or not to recommend surveillance colonoscopy.
2. Only 16 percent of the gastroenterologists said they would first consider the patient's preference.
3. Among the primary care group, 40 percent considered life expectancy of patients as the main deciding factor.
4. Around 26 percent of PCPs said they would seek a recommendation of a gastroenterologist.
5. Twelve percent of PCPs said that patient preference should be the deciding factor and only 10 percent said findings on previous exams should be the main factor.