A new study reveals that defensive beliefs and misconceptions about colorectal cancer and screening can prevent individuals from participating in recommended screening programs.
The findings were published by Wiley in the peer-reviewed journal CANCER.
The study, conducted by Nicholas Clarke, PhD, of Dublin City University, found that individuals who did not participate in at-home stool fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening were more likely to react defensively, based on their responses to questionnaires.
The defensive beliefs, as described by the study, are categorized into four domains, including attention avoidance, blunting, suppression, and counter-argumentation. Some of the reasons why people may react defensively include a belief that having a healthy lifestyle or regular bowel movements negates the need for screening, a belief that the screening test can be delayed, a belief that cancer is always fatal, and misconceptions about colorectal cancer and screening.
The study highlights the need for screening programs to address these misconceptions and find ways to decrease procrastination among the population. An accompanying editorial by Beverly Beth Green, MD, MPH of Kaiser Permanente Washington and Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute advocates for further research to test strategies for decreasing defensive information processing, such as financial incentives.
Dr. Clarke also emphasized the importance of making colorectal cancer screening a routine part of middle age and suggested that the measures used in the study could help identify people who may need extra support to participate in colorectal cancer screening programs worldwide.
URL Upon Publication: https://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/cncr.34602