Most Primary Care Physicians Not Following the American Cancer Society’s Recommendation to Screen at Age 45
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Most Primary Care Physicians Not Following the American Cancer Society’s Recommendation to Screen at Age 45

Douglas K. Rex, MD, MASGE, reviewing Read AJ, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020 Aug 29.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommended in 2018 that all Americans should undergo colorectal cancer (CRC) screening beginning at age 45. Thus far, other major screening groups have not followed suit. In a web-based survey, 631 primary care physicians received an invitation to participate in the survey, 56.4% responded, 31 were excluded based on low screening numbers in their practices, and 325 completed the survey (54.1% of the eligible invitees).

Of the 325 respondents, 77.2% were aware of the ACS recommendation, but only 27.1% had changed their practice. Of those who reported a change in practice, 50% began screening in patients who were younger than age 50, and most of those at age 45. The rest initiated screening in patients who were between ages 50 and 60 – later than recommended by the ACS.

Douglas K. Rex, MD, FASGE

COMMENT

It’s not uncommon for clinical practice to lag behind guideline recommendations. Widespread screening beginning at age 45 will require buy-in from patients and providers, as well as health care plans and insurers. Certainly, the next recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force will have a major impact on which direction this issue heads.

Note to readers: At the time we reviewed this paper, its publisher noted that it was not in final form and that subsequent changes might be made.

CITATION(S)

Read AJ, Waljee AK, Saini SD. A national survey of adoption of the 2018 American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guideline in primary care. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020 Aug 29. (Epub ahead of print) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2020.08.060)

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