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99 DO PHYSICIAN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING DIFFER BY PATIENT AGE? MJ Sewitch, M Yaffe, L Snell, M Dawes, P Zanelli, M Roper, P Burtin, A Pavilanis, C Fournier
The study aim was to determine the relationship between patient age and receipt of a physician recommendation for colorectal cancer screening.
A cross-sectional study was conducted of family medicine and internal medicine physicians and their patients. Study sites included three McGill University-affiliated hospitals in Montreal (2004 to 05). Patients were grouped according to age (50 to 64, 65 to 80). Receipt of a physician's recommendation for colorectal cancer screening was assessed following the office visit by physician questionnaire.
In total, 618 patients without previous or current colorectal cancer participated (60% F, 54% 65 years of age and older). According to current guidelines, 333 (54%) patients were up-to-date with and 284 (46%) were eligible for colorectal cancer screening. Among all patients, smaller proportions of the older group received screening recommendations (28% vs 40%; P=0.002), recommendations for colonoscopy (16% vs 21%; P=0.09) and recommendations for fecal occult blood tests (13% vs 19%; P=0.06) compared with the younger age group. Among screen-eligible patients, 128 (45%) received a physician recommendation for screening. A significantly smaller proportion of older patients received recommendations for screening compared with the younger age group (36% vs 53%; P=0.0056). Physicians' recommendations for fecal occult blood testing did not differ by age group (P=0.4136). However, a significantly smaller proportion of older patients received recommendations for screening colonoscopy compared with the younger age group (19% vs 30%; P=0.0382).
Older patients received fewer recommendations from their physicians to participate in screening colonoscopy compared with younger patients.