A new study published in Cancer indicates people of higher socioeconomic status typically choose endoscopic colorectal cancer screening over home-based fecal occult blood test, according to the abstract of the study and Reuters report.
Analyzing data gathered between 2000 and 2008, researchers observed a significant decline in FOBT prevalence in higher socioeconomic status groups, but not in lower socioeconomic status groups. During this period, endoscopic colorectal cancer screening increased in all higher socioeconomic status subgroups while few lower socioeconomic status subgroups experienced increases in colorectal cancer endoscopic screening, and such increases were smaller than those observed in higher socioeconomic status subgroups.
The researchers concluded the following: "If national colorectal cancer screening goals are to be achieved in populations with lower access to colonoscopy, then annual high-sensitivity FOBT should be promoted as an immediately accessible and viable alternative."
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