Prioritizing Cancer Screening

A care gap exists in the area of CRC screening and preventive care; however, research suggests that this is not because patients do not care about their health, but rather, tend to prioritize other life demands.1 This care gap may be greatest among patients aged 45-64 years, highlighting a potential gap in timely screening according to national guidelines.1,2

A survey conducted by National Colorectal Cancer Round Table (NCCRT) and American Cancer Society (ACS) showed that populations who are unscreened for CRC care a great deal about their health1

A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) survey suggests a bigger preventive care gap among patients ages 45-64 years (compared to those 65 and older)2

UNSCREENED PATIENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH1

Stats about patient concern for their health
  • A 3-part market survey research conducted by NCCRT and ACS researched screened and unscreened populations to better understand and address disparities1
  • According to respondents, health is a greater concern now that they are aging, so some prioritize healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as eating healthy, staying active, getting enough sleep, and not smoking1
  • For some individuals, taking care of family members is more of a focus than personal health1

PREVENTIVE CARE VISIT RATE PER 100 PERSONS BY SEX AND AGE2,a

Bar charts displaying screening rate by age and sex
  • A National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, conducted by the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, of 9574 physicians classified as providing direct patient care in office-based practices suggests a bigger gap in preventive care with patients 45-64 years2
  • Visits to office-based physicians and other medical professionals provide patients with the opportunity to receive clinical preventive services that may delay or prevent chronic illness, as well as prevent the subsequent use of emergency or inpatient care2

Related Topics

References

1 NCCRT. 2019 Colorectal Cancer Screening Messaging Guidebook. Accessed February 26,2023.  https://nccrt.org/resource/2019messagingguidebook 

2 Hing E, Albert M. State variation in preventive care visits, by patient characteristics, 2012. NCHS data brief, no 234. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.

 

Footnotes

a NAMCS Survey done in 2012, conducted by CDC, National Center for Health Statistics. Sample included physicians classified as providing direct patient care in office-based practices. Sample consisted of 9574 physicians.

Last Updated: 2/26/2023