Variation in colorectal cancer testing between primary care physicians: a cross-sectional study in Switzerland.
- Braun AL Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
- Prati E Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
- Martin Y Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
- Dvořák C President Sentinella Network, Bern, Switzerland.
- Tal K Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
- Biller-Andorno N Institute for Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine (IBME), Zurich, Switzerland.
- Bulliard JL University General Medicine and Public Health Centre, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Cornuz J University General Medicine and Public Health Centre, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Selby K University General Medicine and Public Health Centre, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Auer R Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland. Reto.Auer@biham.unibe.ch.
- 2019-06-16
Published in:
- International journal of public health. - 2019
Colorectal cancer
Decision making
Practice variation
Primary care
Screening
Aged
Colonoscopy
Colorectal Neoplasms
Cross-Sectional Studies
Early Detection of Cancer
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Occult Blood
Physicians, Primary Care
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Switzerland
English
OBJECTIVES
To determine the proportion of 50-75-year-old patients who visit a primary care physician's (PCP) office and were tested for colorectal cancer (CRC) by either colonoscopy within 10 years or fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) within 2 years. To describe the variation in care between PCPs and factors associated with these proportions.
METHODS
Cross-sectional data collected between April and December 2017.
PARTICIPANTS
PCPs reporting for the Swiss Sentinel Surveillance Network. Each PCP collected demographic data and CRC testing status from 40 consecutive patients.
MEASUREMENTS
proportions of patients up to date with CRC screening and method used (colonoscopy/FOBT/Other); variation in the outcome measures between PCPs; association of physician-level factors with main outcomes.
RESULTS
91/129 PCPs collected data from 3451 patients; 45% had been tested for CRC within recommended intervals (41% colonoscopy, 4% FOBT). The proportions of patients tested and testing with colonoscopy versus FOBT varied widely between PCPs. Language region was associated with PCPs' rate of FOBT prescription.
CONCLUSIONS
Less than half of patients who visited PCPs in Switzerland were tested for CRC within recommended intervals. PCPs varied widely in their testing practices.
To determine the proportion of 50-75-year-old patients who visit a primary care physician's (PCP) office and were tested for colorectal cancer (CRC) by either colonoscopy within 10 years or fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) within 2 years. To describe the variation in care between PCPs and factors associated with these proportions.
METHODS
Cross-sectional data collected between April and December 2017.
PARTICIPANTS
PCPs reporting for the Swiss Sentinel Surveillance Network. Each PCP collected demographic data and CRC testing status from 40 consecutive patients.
MEASUREMENTS
proportions of patients up to date with CRC screening and method used (colonoscopy/FOBT/Other); variation in the outcome measures between PCPs; association of physician-level factors with main outcomes.
RESULTS
91/129 PCPs collected data from 3451 patients; 45% had been tested for CRC within recommended intervals (41% colonoscopy, 4% FOBT). The proportions of patients tested and testing with colonoscopy versus FOBT varied widely between PCPs. Language region was associated with PCPs' rate of FOBT prescription.
CONCLUSIONS
Less than half of patients who visited PCPs in Switzerland were tested for CRC within recommended intervals. PCPs varied widely in their testing practices.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- green
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1007/s00038-019-01259-4
- PMID 31201428
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/293020
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