How men differ from women in their attitudes towards bowel cancer screening and intention to be screened

Abstract

Background:

The aim of this study was to explore men's attitudes to bowel cancer (BC) and bowel cancer screening (BCS), and to see to what extent these affect their intention to be screened for bowel cancer via a faecal occult blood test (FOBt).

Methods:

A sample of 334 adults (n = 254 women and n = 80 men), aged 60 years old and over, completed a short questionnaire addressing specific barriers to bowel cancer screening in relation to their intention to be screened. Participants were recruited, via convenience sampling, during publicity events held by the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP). Age and gender were the only demographic factors monitored.

Results:

Men were found to have lower fear and higher fatalistic beliefs with regard to BC. Men lacked confidence in both the FOBt and their ability to carry out the test, and would feel awkward completing a FOBt. Men's intention to be screened for BC was governed by a lower perceived severity, lower fear and higher fatalistic beliefs.

Conclusions:

The findings indicated that men's attitudes towards BC and BCS governed their intention to be screened. Therefore, there is the necessity to address the specific attitudes to BC and BCS held by men in future research to increase intention and subsequent BCS participation in this population.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Cancer Research UK. UK: Bowel Cancer Statistics. Available at: www.info.cancerresearckuk.org/cancerstats/types/bowel/index.htm. [Accessed Oct 14, 2009].

Adrouny

Understanding Colon Cancer. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi; 2002.

NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. UK: How is the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme organised? Available at: http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/#how-organised. [Accessed Sep 23, 2009].

NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. UK: Who is eligible for bowel cancer screening? Available at: http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/#how-organised. [Accessed Sep 23, 2009].

Weller

, Moss

, Butler

, Campbell

, Coleman

, Melia

, et al. UK: Colorectal Cancer Screening Team. English Pilot of Bowel Cancer Screening: An Evaluation of the Second Round. Available at: http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/pilot-2nd-round-evaluation.pdf. [Accessed Oct 14, 2009].

Wardle

, Miles

, Aitken

Gender differences in utilization of Colorectal Cancer Screening. J Med Screen, 2005; 12:20–27.

Vernon

Participation in Colorectal Cancer Screening: a review. J Natl Cancer Inst, 1997; 89:1406–1422.

O'Sullivan

, Orbell

. ‘Do it yourself’ screening to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer by completion of a faecal occult blood test (FOBt): findings from focus group discussion. In: UK: Evaluation of the UK Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot: Report Supplement; 2003. Available at: http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/finalreport.pdf. [Accessed Oct 14, 2009].

Evans

R.E.C.

, Brotherstone

, Miles

, Wardle

Gender differences in early detection of cancer. JMHG, 2005; 2:209–217.

10.

Garfield

, Isacco

, Rogers

. A Review of Men's Health and Masculinity. Available at: http://ajl.sagepub.com/cgi/rapidpdf/1559827608323213v1. [Accessed Apr 29, 2010].

11.

Shapiro

J.A.

, Seeff

L.C.

, Nadel

M.R.

Colorectal cancer – screening tests and associated health behaviors. Am J Prev Med, 2001; 21:132–137.

12.

Jorgensen

O.D.

, Kronborg

, Fenger

A randomised study of screening for colorectal cancer using faecal occult blood testing: results after 13 years and seven biennial screening rounds. Gut, 2002; 50:29–32.

13.

Myers

R.E.

, Ross

, Jepson

, Wolf

, Balshem

, Millner

, et al. Modelling adherence to colorectal cancer screening. Prev Med, 1994; 23:142–151.

14.

Brawarsky

, Brooks

D.R.

, Mucci

L.A.

Correlates of colorectal cancer testing in Massachusetts men and women. Prev Med, 2003; 36:659–668.

15.

Katz

M.L.

, Sheridan

, Pignone

, Lewis

, Battle

, Gollop

, et al. Prostate and colon cancer screening in popular magazines. J Gen Intern Med, 2004; 19:843–848.

16.

McCaffery

, Wardle

, Waller

Knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural intentions in relation to the early detection of colorectal cancer in the United Kingdom. Prev Med, 2003; 36:525–535.

17.

Rogers

R.W.

Cognitive and physiological processes in fear appeals and attitude change: a revised theory of protection motivation. In: Cacioppo

J.R.

, Petty

R.E.

, editors. Social Psychology: A Source Book. New York: Guildford Press; 1983. p. 153–156.

18.

Wardle

, McCaffery

, Nadel

, Atkin

Socioeconomic differences in cancer screening participation: comparing cognitive and psychosocial explanations. Soc Sci Med, 2004; 59:249–261.

19.

Weinstein

N.D.

Unrealistic optimism about future life events. J Pers Soc Psychol, 1980; 39:806–820.

20.

Straughan

P.T.

, Seow

Fatalism reconceptualized: a concept to predict health screening behavior. J Gender Cult Health, 1998; 3:85–100.

21.

Hodgkins

, Orbell

Can protection motivation theory predict behaviour? A longitudinal test exploring the role of previous behaviour. Psychol Health, 1998; 13:237–250.

22.

Wurtele

. Increasing women's calcium intake: the role of health beliefs, intentions, and health value. J Appl Soc Psychol, 1988; 18: 627–39. Cited in: Milne

, Sheeran

, Orbell

. Prediction and intervention in health-related behavior: a meta-analytic review of protection motivation theory. J Appl Soc Psychol 2000; 30:106–43.

23.

National Statistics Census. UK: Focus on Age, Ethnicity and Religion. Available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/foer2006/FonER_49-50.pdf. [Accessed Oct 14, 2009].

24.

National Statistics Census. UK: Trips per person per year: by gender, age and purpose, 1998-2000: Social Trends 32. Available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=5148&Pos=&ColRank=2&Rank=48. [Accessed Oct 14, 2009].

25.

Tessaro

, Mangone

, Parkar

, Pawar

Knowledge, barriers and predictors of colorectal cancer screening in an Appalachian church population. Prev Chronic Dis, 2006; 3(4):A123.

26.

Kremers

S.P.J.

, Mesters

, Pladdet

I.E.

, Van de Borne

, Stockbrugger

R.W.

Participation in a Sigmoidoscopic Colorectal Cancer Screening Program: a pilot study. Cancer Epidem Biomar, 2000; 9:1127–1130.

27.

Schroy

. UK: Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening: Part 1– Patient Noncompliance. Available at: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/431850. [Accessed Oct 14, 2009].

28.

Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention. Tools and Strategies to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates: A Practical Guide for Health Insurance Plans, 5th edn. Cambridge, MA: Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention; 2008.

29.

Nierdeppe

, Levy

A.G.

Fatalistic beliefs about cancer prevention and three prevention behaviors. Cancer Epidem Biomar, 2007; 16:998–1003.

30.

Michielutte

, Dignan

, Sharp

, Boxley

, Wells

. Skin cancer prevention and early detection practices in a sample of rural women. Prev Med, 1996; 25: 673–83. Cited in: Niederdeppe

, Levy

. Fatalistic beliefs about cancer prevention and three prevention behaviors. Cancer Epidem Biomar 2007; 16:998–1003.

31.

Wardle

, Sutton

, Williamson

, Taylor

, McCaffery

, Cuzick

, et al. Psychosocial influences on older adults’ interest in participating in bowel cancer screening. Prev Med, 2000; 31:323–334.

32.

Chapple

, Ziebland

, Hewitson

, McPherson

What affects the uptake of screening for bowel cancer using a faecal occult blood test (FOBt): a qualitative study. Soc Sci Med, 2008; 66:2425–2435.

33.

Macrae

F.A.

, Hill

D.J.

, St. John

J.B.

, Ambikapathy

, Garner

J.F.

The Ballarat General Practitioner Research Group. Predicting colon cancer screening behavior from heath beliefs. Prev Med, 1984; 13:115–126.