Variation in primary care physicians' colorectal cancer screening recommendations by patient age and comorbidity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Screening patterns among primary care physicians (PCPs) may be influenced by patient age and comorbidity. Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has little benefit among patients with limited life expectancy.

Objective

To characterize the extent to which PCPs modify their recommendations for CRC screening based upon patients' increasing age and/or worsening comorbidity

Design

Cross-sectional, nationally representative survey.

Participants

The study comprised primary care physicians (n = 1,266) including general internal medicine, family practice, and obstetrics-gynecology physicians.

Main measures

Physician CRC screening recommendations among patients of varying age and comorbidity were measured based upon clinical vignettes. Independent variables

SUBMITTER: Haggstrom DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3539036 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature