Does a screening questionnaire for familial and hereditary colorectal cancer risk work in a health insurance population?

Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate actual prevalence, uptake and first experiences with a questionnaire developed for early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) in persons with familial/hereditary risk. A cross sectional study in an insurance population aged 30-54 years was conducted. Subjects with ICD-10 codes C00 to C97 and D37 to D48 were excluded. A standardised questionnaire was sent to 12,139 subjects. Three months later, subjects with a reported family history were followed by a second questionnaire. An additional telephone survey was performed to validate responses. Nineteen per cent met the inclusion criteria (mean age 45 ± 7 years, 38% men). Three hundred and seventy-three subjects (16%) were followed by a second questionnaire. Of these, 248 (66%) returned. Forty-four per cent were already aware of their increased risk of developing CRC. Awareness was associated with knowledge of CRC. One hundred subjects (41%) reported that they had informed their general practitioner (GP) or gastroenterologist. A colonoscopy or stool test was recommended to 92. Subjects who found out about their increased risk for the first time, reported significantly less frequent physician contact (GP: 20% vs. 34%, gastroenterologist: 8% vs. 21%). Results indicate that there is a need for a structured, person at risk-adapted, statutory early detection program.

Identification of hereditary cancer in the general population: development and validation of a screening questionnaire for obtaining the family history of cancer

“…Pieper et al. . evaluated a questionnaire to screen individuals at‐risk for hereditary CRC in a sample of private service users in Germany.…”

“…Developed countries also face difficulties related to the identification of HCPS families, due to the increasing demand of patients and families at‐risk for hereditary cancer identified and consequent lack of infrastructure and personnel to meet this growing necessity . This problem will inevitably occur in developing countries such as Brazil as soon as oncogenetics services become available to the entire population.…”

Agreement between self-reported and registered colorectal cancer screening: a meta-analysis

“…consecutive or non-consecutive patients in the waiting room of a clinic). In three studies (Mandelson et al 1999;Madlensky et al 2003;Bastani et al 2008), the samples consisted of first-degree relatives of CRC patients, who are known to have an increased risk for CRC (Johns & Houlston 2001) and increased perception of this risk (Stark et al 2006;Rees et al 2008;Pieper et al 2012). In four studies (Lipkus et al 2003;Bastani et al 2008;Ferrante et al 2008;Jones et al 2008), the surveyed were involved in an intervention aimed to increase awareness of CRC (e.g.…”

Validierung eines 4-Item-Fragebogens zum familiären und hereditären Darmkrebsrisiko in der Hausarztpraxis

“…Es ist fraglich, ob Patienten eine Frage beantworten können, die selbst durch die Hausärzte der Angehörigen nicht beantwortet werden kann. In der Studie von Pieper et al [10] zum gleichen Fragebogen gaben zu dieser Frage 23 % der eingeschlossenen Patienten "ich weiß nicht" an.…”