Patterns and predictors of adherence to colorectal cancer screening recommendations in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project participants stratified by risk

Table 1 Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines and risk criteria^a

Risk category	Criteria	Age to commence screening	Screening Test	Screening frequency (years)
Average-risk (Age-only)	Age 50–74 years	50	FOBT	2
			Sigmoidoscopy	5
			Colonoscopy	10
Moderate-risk (FamilyHx)	Family history of CRC in 1 first-degree relative ≥60 years	40	FOBT	2
			Sigmoidoscopy	5
			Colonoscopy	10
	Family history of CRC in 1 first-degree relative < 60 years	40^b	Colonoscopy	5
	Family history of CRC in 2 or more relatives	40^b	Colonoscopy	5
High-risk (PersonalHx)	Personal history of a bowel condition^c	40^d	Colonoscopy	5
Highest-risk (Family/PersonalHx)	Personal history of a bowel condition and family history of CRC	40^d	Colonoscopy	5

^aAccording to the 2008 Alberta Toward Optimized Practice Clinical Practice Guidelines for CRC screening and the 2001 Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care
^bAccording to the guidelines, colonoscopy could also commence 10 years earlier than the age of the first family member diagnosed with CRC; however, the number of participants that should start screening before 40 (i.e. familial case diagnosed before age 50) was low (n = 244) and therefore this criteria was not used in the present study
^cBowel condition includes inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD, which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) and/or a history of polyps
^dThe guidelines recommend colonoscopy screening starts at 8–10 years after disease onset; however, age of diagnosis of bowel conditions was not captured in the questionnaires completed by participants and therefore this criteria was not used in the present study
Stratum Descriptions:
Age-only - participants who should commence screening due to age (50–74 years); considered average-risk
FamilyHx - participants with a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with CRC; considered moderate-risk
PersonalHx - participants with a personal history of a bowel condition or polyps; considered high-risk
Family/PersonalHx - participants with first-degree relative diagnosed with CRC and personal history of a bowel condition or polyps; considered highest-risk

ISSN: 1471-2458