Colorectal Cancer Coalition

Barriers and Facilitators for Colorectal Cancer Screening in Older People

Although Medicare pays for colorectal cancer screening, not all older people enrolled in Medicare are screened.

Reviewing published medical literature, a task group from the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable found research identifying both barriers to screening and factors that made it easier.

The most frequently mentioned barrier related to healthcare providers was lack of a doctor’s recommendation.  Having a usual source of health care facilitated getting screened.

Other barriers included:

• Low level of education
• African American race
• Hispanic ethnicity
• female gender

Being married or living with a partner was the most frequent personal faciliator.

Lack of health insurance or dual coverage with Medicare and Medicaid were most frequently reported insurance barriers to getting screened, while Medicare coverage was consistently reported as facilitating it.

Idris Guessous led the study team from the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable Screening Among the 65 Plus Task Group.

SOURCE: Guessous et al., Preventive Medicine, Volume 50, Issues 1-2, pages 3-10, January-February 2010.

This news article was originally posted on February 1st, 2010 and was accurate at the time of publication. Since then, information may have changed or links may now be outdated. Please call our Answer Line 1-877-427-2111 for the latest information, or talk to your doctor before making any medical decisions.

Posted by Kate Murphy on February 1st, 2010
Tags: colorectal cancer screening, Medicare

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