Perceived Colonoscopy Barriers and Facilitators Among Urban African American Patients and Their Medical Residents

    Authors

    D. G. Ruggieri; S. B. Bass; M. J. Rovito; S. Ward; T. F. Gordon; A. Paranjape; K. Lin; B. Meyer; L. Parameswaran; C. Wolak; J. Britto;S. B. Ruzek

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Health Commun.

    Keywords

    CANCER SCREENING PRACTICES; COLORECTAL-CANCER; PHYSICIAN RECOMMENDATION; PROVIDER COMMUNICATION; LOW-INCOME; PERCEPTIONS; KNOWLEDGE; SURVEILLANCE; RISK; Communication; Information Science & Library Science

    Abstract

    African Americans suffer from higher colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality than do Whites, yet have the lowest screening rates. To understand barriers and facilitators to colorectal cancer screening, this study used perceptual mapping (multidimensional scaling) methods to compare patients' perceptions of colonoscopy and general preventive health practices to those of their doctors in a general internal medicine clinic in a large urban hospital. African American patients (n=102) were surveyed about their own screening beliefs; third-year resident physicians (n=29) were asked what they perceived their patients believed. The perceptual maps showed significant differences between the patients' and physicians' perceptions of barriers, facilitators, and beliefs about screening. Physicians believed logistical lifestyle issues were the greatest screening barriers for their patients whereas fears of complications, pain, and cancer were the most important barriers perceived by patients. Physicians also underestimated patients' understanding of the benefits and importance of screening, doctors' recommendations, and beliefs that faith in God could facilitate screening. Physicians and patients perceived a doctor's recommendation for screening was an important facilitator. Better understanding of patient perceptions can be used to improve doctorpatient communication and to improve medical resident training by incorporating specific messages tailored for use with African American patients.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Health Communication

    Volume

    18

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    372

    Last Page

    390

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000316387100002

    ISSN

    1081-0730

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