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193 POPULATION-BASED ESTIMATES OF COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING IN FOUR CANADIAN PROVINCES MJ Sewitch, C Fournier, A Ciampi, A Dyanchenko PURPOSE: This population-based study aimed to estimate rates of CRC screening by screening modality according to sex, age group, residential area and geographical location.
METHODS: Study subjects were 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 2.1 respondents aged => 50 years, without past or present CRC, and residing in Newfoundland, Ontario, Saskatchewan or British Columbia. Screening modalities included fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and endoscopy (colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy). Age groups were 50-64 years and 65 years and over. Residential areas were rural and urban. Health regions, defined by provincial health ministries, comprised legislated administrative areas. Rates were calculated according to specific time intervals using weighted data.
RESULT: An estimated 2,529,577 Canadians were represented by 17,646 respondents. Overall, annual and bi-annual FOBT rates were 8.5% and 5.6%, respectively. Rate of endoscopy was 16% in the previous 5 years compared to 3.7% in the past 6-10 years. More older respondents were screened by both FOBT and endoscopy compared to their younger counterparts. Modest differences in CRC screening rates were found by sex and residential area. Health regional rates of annual FOBT ranged from: 4.7% to 6.4% in Newfoundland, 5.0% to 12.8% in Ontario, 4.4% to 19.0% in Saskatchewan, 2.8% to 15.2% in British Columbia. Health regional rates of endoscopy in the previous 5 years ranged from: 8.0% to 20.6% in Newfoundland, 13.3% to 25.1% in Ontario, 13.8% to 19.5% in Saskatchewan, 7.8% to 20.3% in British Columbia.
CONCLUSION: Canadians aged 50-64 years are underserved with regards to CRC screening. Although health regional rates of FOBT and endoscopy screening were low and highly variable, rates did not differ by sex or residential area.