BARRIERS AND WILLINGNESS FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING IN A MUSLIM POPULATION OF SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRY: NATIONWIDE SURVEY (INTERIM ANALYSIS)

Aims To evaluate barriers of CRC screening in Pakistani population aged>40 years.

Methods A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among the general population from all provinces of Pakistan. Data is analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21.0)

Results It is an ongoing study, with 1117 participants included Mean age of 50.70±7.07 years with 56% of males. 963 (86.2%) participants were unaware of CRC disease. Infact,689(61.7%) did not even hear about it. 655 (58.6%) had no intention to get screened in the future. The main barriers were lack of knowledge of CRC screening test (p=0.035), lack of screening test facilities availability (p=0.001), cost (p=0.000), unsure about the safety of colonoscopy (p=0.000), the ineffectiveness of screening test (p=0.000), and lack of government-funded screening program (p=0.001). The unavailability of a preferred gender doctor for colonoscopy was also a significant barrier (p=0.000). 642(57.5%) participants will not opt for colonoscopy if the preferred doctor is unavailable.

Conclusions In our ongoing survey, we found multiple colorectal cancer screening barriers among the general Pakistani population. A majority of participants were unaware of CRC. Extensive government-led awareness campaign must be launched. Moreover, the availability of preferred gender endoscopists must be ensured to increase compliance

Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2022