Do colorectal cancer patients understand that their family is at risk?

David T. Rubin; Rishi K. Gandhi; Jeremy T. Hetzel; Sydney H. Kinnear; Andrew Aronsohn; Gordon Wood; Nicole Yadron

doi:10.1007/s10620-009-0940-z

Do colorectal cancer patients understand that their family is at risk?

David T. Rubin, Rishi K. Gandhi, Jeremy T. Hetzel, Sydney H. Kinnear, Andrew Aronsohn, Gordon Wood, Nicole Yadron

Medicine, Hospital Medicine Division

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess whether patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are aware of the risk to family members and to test an educational intervention. Methods: CRC patients were surveyed regarding their cancer, family history, understanding of familial risk of CRC, and knowledge of existing screening guidelines for their relatives. An educational intervention was mailed to them and 6 months later they were resurveyed. Results: Of 253 CRC patients who agreed to participate, only 120 (47.4%) knew that their first-degree relatives were at increased risk for CRC. African-American (AA) race, educational background, income, and previous family history of CRC were significant predictive factors on univariate analysis, but only AA race remained significant on multivariate analysis. Two hundred two patients received the educational intervention and were resurveyed. The understanding of family risk did not improve with this intervention. Conclusion: Most CRC patients do not know about their family members' risk. Better educational tools are needed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2473-2483
Number of pages	11
Journal	Digestive diseases and sciences
Volume	54
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-0940-z
State	Published - Nov 2009

Keywords

Colorectal cancer
Family risk
First-degree relatives
Patient knowledge

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Gastroenterology
Physiology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/s10620-009-0940-z

Cite this

@article{db5f63045c514de9b050652fcbebfb49,

title = "Do colorectal cancer patients understand that their family is at risk?",

abstract = "Aim: The aim of this study was to assess whether patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are aware of the risk to family members and to test an educational intervention. Methods: CRC patients were surveyed regarding their cancer, family history, understanding of familial risk of CRC, and knowledge of existing screening guidelines for their relatives. An educational intervention was mailed to them and 6 months later they were resurveyed. Results: Of 253 CRC patients who agreed to participate, only 120 (47.4%) knew that their first-degree relatives were at increased risk for CRC. African-American (AA) race, educational background, income, and previous family history of CRC were significant predictive factors on univariate analysis, but only AA race remained significant on multivariate analysis. Two hundred two patients received the educational intervention and were resurveyed. The understanding of family risk did not improve with this intervention. Conclusion: Most CRC patients do not know about their family members' risk. Better educational tools are needed.",

keywords = "Colorectal cancer, Family risk, First-degree relatives, Patient knowledge",

author = "Rubin, {David T.} and Gandhi, {Rishi K.} and Hetzel, {Jeremy T.} and Kinnear, {Sydney H.} and Andrew Aronsohn and Gordon Wood and Nicole Yadron",

note = "Funding Information: This study was a knowledge survey about familial risk related to colorectal cancer and colorectal screening amongst patients who were treated at the University of Chicago Medical Center. The study was approved by the University of Chicago Institutional Review Board (IRB). Eligible patients included those in the University of Chicago Cancer Registry (UCCR) who were diagnosed with CRC and received first treatment at the University of Chicago, or were diagnosed elsewhere and received their first treatment at the University of Chicago. The UCCR uses case-finding methods by reviewing updated pathology reports as well as malignancies reported in the oncology patient database to compile a list of potentially eligible patients. Patients were ineligible if they were not followed by a University of Chicago physician. Exclusion criteria was confirmed familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, inability to recall that they had CRC, and no first-degree relatives. The study was supported by a grant from the Cancer Research Foundation in Chicago, IL. Funding Information: Acknowledgments Funded in part by the Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award, Chicago, IL.",

year = "2009",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1007/s10620-009-0940-z",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "54",

pages = "2473--2483",

journal = "Digestive diseases and sciences",

issn = "0163-2116",