TY - JOUR
T1 - An Exploratory Study of Primary Care Clinicians’ Perspectives on 2021 New and Updated Cancer Screening Guidelines
AU - Angier, Heather
AU - Bonuck, Kathryn J.
AU - McCrimmon, Sara
AU - Wiser, Amy L.
AU - Huguet, Nathalie
AU - Carney, Patricia A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2023/1/1
Y1 - 2023/1/1
N2 - Background and Objective: Cancer screening rates remain low in rural, racial and ethnic minority, low-income, and uninsured populations. Prior studies showed that cancer screening recommendations vary based on clinicians’ factors. We conducted an exploratory study on primary care clinicians’ beliefs about new or updated cancer screening guidelines according to clinician demographics. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved administering a web-based survey in July and August of 2021 to primary care clinicians practicing in diverse ambulatory settings in the Pacific Northwest belonging to the same health system. The survey assessed clinician demographics, attitudes about the impact of cancer screening on mortality, and how clinicians stay up-to-date with guidelines. Results: Of the 191 clinicians, 81 responded (42.4%), after removing 13 incomplete surveys, we analyzed 68 (35.6%). The majority agreed/strongly agreed that breast (76.1%), colorectal (95.5%), and cervical (90.9%) cancer screening, and HPV vaccination (85.1%) prevent early cancer mortality: there were no differences according to clinician gender or years in practice. Female compared to male clinicians were more likely to agree/strongly agree that tobacco smoking cessation (female: 100% vs male: 86.4%, P =.01) prevents early cancer mortality, whereas male compared to female clinicians were more likely to agree/strongly agree that lung cancer screening (male: 86.4% vs female: 57.8%, P =.04) prevents early cancer mortality. One-third (33.3%) of clinicians were unaware of the 2021 update on lung cancer screening and females were more likely than males to say they did not know about this change (females: 43.2% vs males: 13.6%, P =.02). Conclusions: This study suggests that clinicians’ attitudes are not likely the primary factor affecting low cancer screening rates in some populations and that few differences exist in beliefs based on gender, and none based on years in practice.
AB - Background and Objective: Cancer screening rates remain low in rural, racial and ethnic minority, low-income, and uninsured populations. Prior studies showed that cancer screening recommendations vary based on clinicians’ factors. We conducted an exploratory study on primary care clinicians’ beliefs about new or updated cancer screening guidelines according to clinician demographics. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved administering a web-based survey in July and August of 2021 to primary care clinicians practicing in diverse ambulatory settings in the Pacific Northwest belonging to the same health system. The survey assessed clinician demographics, attitudes about the impact of cancer screening on mortality, and how clinicians stay up-to-date with guidelines. Results: Of the 191 clinicians, 81 responded (42.4%), after removing 13 incomplete surveys, we analyzed 68 (35.6%). The majority agreed/strongly agreed that breast (76.1%), colorectal (95.5%), and cervical (90.9%) cancer screening, and HPV vaccination (85.1%) prevent early cancer mortality: there were no differences according to clinician gender or years in practice. Female compared to male clinicians were more likely to agree/strongly agree that tobacco smoking cessation (female: 100% vs male: 86.4%, P =.01) prevents early cancer mortality, whereas male compared to female clinicians were more likely to agree/strongly agree that lung cancer screening (male: 86.4% vs female: 57.8%, P =.04) prevents early cancer mortality. One-third (33.3%) of clinicians were unaware of the 2021 update on lung cancer screening and females were more likely than males to say they did not know about this change (females: 43.2% vs males: 13.6%, P =.02). Conclusions: This study suggests that clinicians’ attitudes are not likely the primary factor affecting low cancer screening rates in some populations and that few differences exist in beliefs based on gender, and none based on years in practice.
KW - cancer screening guidelines
KW - clinician attitudes
KW - clinician beliefs
KW - prevention
KW - primary care
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U2 - 10.1177/21501319231164910
DO - 10.1177/21501319231164910
M3 - Article
C2 - 37026464
AN - SCOPUS:85151876540
SN - 2150-1319
VL - 14
JO - Journal of Primary Care and Community Health
JF - Journal of Primary Care and Community Health
ER -