A study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, estimated nationwide colorectal cancer screening rates.
Researchers used data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, linked it to American Community Survey poverty data and applied a multilevel logistics regression model. They then post-stratified the data using U.S. Census population data to run Monte Carlo simulations.
Researchers observed substantial variations among CRC screening estimates.
State means ranged from 58.92 percent for Wyoming to 65.03 percent for Massachusetts. Estimated county means ranged from 40.11 percent in Alaska to 79.76 percent in Florida.
Researchers concluded, "State estimates mask county variations. However, both state and county estimates indicate that the country is far behind the '80 percent by 2018' target."