A study published in Gastroenterology aimed to quantify the prevalence of colorectal cancer screening and/or surveillance and identify factors associated with higher and lower rates of surveillance, according to the study's abstract.
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study by collecting data from electronic files of inpatient and outpatient visits of Kaiser Permanente Northern California members for a total of 771 patients.
Results showed that 24.6 percent of patients underwent at least one surveillance colonoscopy within a two-year study period, with a maximum of 38.5 percent observed among patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Gender, age, race and education were not associated with surveillance. Factors associated with increasing surveillance included lack of significant comorbidity, more than three inflammatory bowel disease-related outpatient visits and use of mesalamine.
Researchers concluded utilization of surveillance colonoscopy in a two-year period was low, even among high-risk patients. A greater understanding of how patients and physicians decide on surveillance is also needed.
Read the study about the prevalence of colorectal cancer surveillance.
Read other coverage about colorectal screening:
- Coding for Screening Colonoscopy When There is Rectal Bleeding: Q&A With Paul Cadorette of mdStrategies
- 4 Steps to Increase Screening Colonoscopy Cases
- Study Debunks Common Belief That Rates of Colonoscopies Rise When Female Patients are Offered Female Endoscopists
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study by collecting data from electronic files of inpatient and outpatient visits of Kaiser Permanente Northern California members for a total of 771 patients.
Results showed that 24.6 percent of patients underwent at least one surveillance colonoscopy within a two-year study period, with a maximum of 38.5 percent observed among patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Gender, age, race and education were not associated with surveillance. Factors associated with increasing surveillance included lack of significant comorbidity, more than three inflammatory bowel disease-related outpatient visits and use of mesalamine.
Researchers concluded utilization of surveillance colonoscopy in a two-year period was low, even among high-risk patients. A greater understanding of how patients and physicians decide on surveillance is also needed.
Read the study about the prevalence of colorectal cancer surveillance.
Read other coverage about colorectal screening:
- Coding for Screening Colonoscopy When There is Rectal Bleeding: Q&A With Paul Cadorette of mdStrategies
- 4 Steps to Increase Screening Colonoscopy Cases
- Study Debunks Common Belief That Rates of Colonoscopies Rise When Female Patients are Offered Female Endoscopists