P2102 - Colon Cancer in 10 Words or Less: Community Perception Offers Insight About Potential Factors Affecting Screening

Katherine Rangoussis, BS, MS¹, Maanvi Vij, BS¹, Reid Schalet, MD¹, Ivan Berezowski, MD¹, Zeina Bani Hani, MBBS¹, Mrudula Bandaru, MD¹, Carol Gergis, MD, MS¹, Omar K. Abu-Ghannam, BS¹, Puja Sasankan, BS¹, Al-Hafis Adegun, BA¹, Anosha Baig, BS², Marie L.. Borum, MD, MPH, FACG^1
1George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; ²GW MFA, Washington, DC

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Disparities in CRC screening amongst marginalized racial and ethnic groups result in late-stage detection and treatment. Understanding individuals’ perspectives on CRC can aid in the development of programs designed to improve screening. This survey study evaluated health fair participants’ perception about CRC.

Methods: An anonymous survey of health fair participants asked respondents to share their perceptions of CRC in 10 words or less. Participant demographics were obtained. Responses were analyzed by frequency of keywords and thematically categorized. Respective attitude groups were stratified based upon patient age (< 50 and >50), prior history of colonoscopy and knowing someone with CRC. Quantitative analysis was performed using Fisher Exact test, with significance set at p< 0.05.

Results: 54 of 59 (91.5%) health fair participants completed the survey. Response categories included fear, prevention and screening, hope and self-improvement, awareness and other. Across all ages, fear-based language was the most common response category, with the most common keyword used being ‘scared’ or 'afraid’. The second and third most common keywords were ‘prevention’ and ‘death’ respectively.



The category of fear was further subcategorized into ‘general fear’, ‘fear of screening’ and ‘fear of death’. ‘Fear of screening’ was most common in age < 50 (41.6%; age range 19-49; mean age 47.7) and ‘fear of death’ was most common in age >50 (34% of responses; age range 50-85, mean age 74.6). There was a significant difference (p< 0.05) between the mean age of ‘fear of screening' and ‘fear of death’. Notably, 66.7% of those describing ‘fear of screening’ were individuals without a prior history of CRC screening with 83.3% age < 50. In contrast, 100% of those describing ‘fear of death’ had a prior colonoscopy and all were age > 50.

Discussion: This study offers insight into health fair participants’ perspectives about CRC and screening. Fear was the predominant response to the open-ended survey request to share perception about CRC in 10 words or less. Subcategorization of the ‘fear’ category revealed a difference in the type of fear based upon age, with participants < 50 fearing CRC screening and those >50 fearing death. This distinction highlights the importance of tailoring CRC education based upon specific concerns. Addressing barriers to CRC screening has the potential to improve CRC outcomes.


Disclosures:


Katherine Rangoussis, BS, MS¹, Maanvi Vij, BS¹, Reid Schalet, MD¹, Ivan Berezowski, MD¹, Zeina Bani Hani, MBBS¹, Mrudula Bandaru, MD¹, Carol Gergis, MD, MS¹, Omar K. Abu-Ghannam, BS¹, Puja Sasankan, BS¹, Al-Hafis Adegun, BA¹, Anosha Baig, BS², Marie L.. Borum, MD, MPH, FACG¹. P2102 - Colon Cancer in 10 Words or Less: Community Perception Offers Insight About Potential Factors Affecting Screening, ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Gastroenterology.