Factors associated with the incompliance with colorectal cancer screening among individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer.

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Objective: Using the data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we examined factors related to the underuse of CRC screening in the population with a family history of CRC. Method: Our analysis included 1,166 adults aged 40- 80 who had a family history of CRC in their first-degree relatives. CRC screening was determined as having a home fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the past year, or having a sigmoidoscopy in the past 5 years or a colonoscopy in the past 10 years. Socio-demographic characteristics, health-related conditions, lifestyle factors, health behaviors, and health care access/utilization were analyzed to assess their relations to CRC screening with the logistic regression method. Results: Older age, higher education, and smoking abstinence decreased the risk of incompliance with the American Cancer Society screening guideline, measured with a combination of FOBT and endoscopy. No visits to a medical specialist, no places to go when sick in the past year, and no histories of ulcer/angina pectoris/sinusitis/pneumonia vaccination increased the risk of the incompliance. For FOBT test only, older age and ability to afford prescribed medicine decreased the risk of incompliance, and no visits to a nurse practitioner/physician assistant/midwife in the past year, having never heard about genetic testing, and no pneumonia vaccination increased the incompliance. The results on endoscopy only were similar to those using the FOBT/endoscopy combined measure. Conclusion: Some factors related to CRC screening incompliance in persons with a family history of CRC may differ from those in general population.