Family physicians’ choices of and opinions on colorectal cancer screening modalities

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To determine FPs’ choices of and opinions on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening options in the context of a new provincewide screening program. METHODS Mailed survey, using a modified Dillman protocol, which asked about 5 recommended CRC screening modalities. SETTING Ontario. PARTICIPANTS Computer-generated random sample of 894 eligible FPs and GPs from a commercially available physician directory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Physicians’ preferences for personal CRC screening; perceptions of patients’ preferences for CRC screening; knowledge of screening test characteristics; and opinions on cost-effectiveness and mortality reduction of screening modalities. RESULTS Of the 894 eligible FPs and GPs who received the mailed survey, 465 physicians responded (response rate of 52%). Respondents were diverse in demographic and practice characteristics. Decennial colonoscopy and biennial fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) were the 2 most popular screening methods. There was a statistically significant difference between physicians’ preferences of screening options and their perceptions about patient preferences ( P CONCLUSION There was a significant difference between primary care physicians’ preferences and their perceptions of patient preferences for CRC screening ( P