ASPO Abstracts
A Missed Opportunity for Colorectal Cancer Screening: Waiting Companions of Patients Undergoing a Colonoscopy
Category: Early Detection & Risk Prediction
Conference Year: 2020
Abstract Body:
PURPOSE: To determine colorectal cancer (CRC) knowledge, screening compliance, and preference(s) for a CRC
screening intervention for waiting companions of patients undergoing colonoscopy.
METHODS: We approached adults waiting for patients undergoing a colonoscopy (i.e., companions) at one of
three endoscopy centers during March-June 2017. Companions ages 50 to 75 were eligible to participate.
Participants completed a survey that assessed CRC and CRC screening knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and
behaviors. Participants also provided input about their preferences for the content and format of a future CRC
screening intervention.
RESULTS: Of the 384 companions approached for participation, 222 (58%) were eligible and completed the
survey. This report focuses on the companions at average-risk for CRC (n=164; 74%).
Most companions had health insurance (95%), visited a healthcare provider in the past year (86%), were a spouse
or a family member of the patient undergoing a colonoscopy (83%), were female (57%), and had a college degree
(49%). Additionally, companions were from a minority race/ethnicity (20%), and had annual household incomes of
$30,000 or less (19%). Almost one-fourth (n=38; 23%) of companions were not within screening guidelines.
Companions lacked knowledge about the age to begin screening (87%) and that African Americans (71%) and
males (57%) are at increased risk. The most frequent barriers to CRC screening were being asymptomatic and
lack of a provider recommendation. While most agreed that CRC would be serious to their health (99%) and that
CRC screening would help protect them (97%), only 29% of companions not within guidelines reported intention to
undergo CRC screening in the next 6 months. Suggestions for a future CRC screening intervention included a
video that included men and women from all races/ethnicities, healthcare providers, individuals who completed
CRC screening, and the intervention should last 15 minutes or less.
CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-fourth of companions were not within CRC screening guidelines. Since
companions of patients undergoing a colonoscopy wait 2-3 hours, developing a brief CRC screening intervention
for them will address an overlooked educational opportunity.
Keywords: Colorectal Cancer; Screening