Examining the general practitioner perspective on utilising family history  to screen for colorectal cancer. — ASN Events
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  3. Examining the general practitioner perspective on utilising family history  to screen for colorectal cancer.

Examining the general practitioner perspective on utilising family history  to screen for colorectal cancer. (#278)

Sundresan Naicker 1 , Bettina Meiser 2 , Danielle Mazza 3 , John Emory 4 , Annabel Goodwin 5 , Timothy Dobbins , Judy Kirkwood 6 , Kristin Barlow-Stewart 6 , Lyndal Trevena 7
  1. University of sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Department of General Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care (SPARHC), University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  5. Sydney South West Area Health Service, NSW Department of health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  6. Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  7. University of sydney, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia

Background: To date, there is no Australian data directly examining  general practitioner (GP) attitudes towards the NHMRC guidelines for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) screening. However, a recent UK survey showed that GP perceived efficacy of CRC screening tests are a significant determinant of the likelihood of referral by the GP in clinical practice. This has significant implications for risk appropriate CRC screening since research shows that GP’s have a significant influence on both their patients’ likelihood to screen for CRC, in addition to their long term screening compliance.

Methods and results: GP’s (n=163) were administered an attitude and behaviour survey examining their CRC screening preferences, triage process and compliance with NHMRC CRC screening guidelines. A hierarchal linear regression model will be used to examine both GP and practice specific factors as independent predictors of their NHMRC CRC screening compliance. GP specific factors that will be reported are: GP’s reported attitude regarding the efficacy of family history as a screening tool, personal screening history and practice employment arrangement. Practice specific factors that will be reported are: practice size, socioeconomic area, billing arrangement, and presence of a practice manager and presence of a practice nurse. In addition descriptive data will be obtained on the frequency of FOBT, colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy referral in a typical month.

Discussion: 62 Surveys have been completed and returned, and this study will completed in August of 2014. It is hypothesised that GP attitudes toward using family history to triage screening for CRC are independent and significant predictors of GP NHMRC CRC screening compliance. Given the paucity of information on how GP and practice specific demographic factors may influence referral to CRC screening, this data may present insights into the future development of a CRC screening program that may improve patient uptake and compliance.

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