Capsule Commentary on Nápoles et. al, Physician Counseling on Colorectal Cancer Screening and Receipt of Screening among Latino Patients

Excerpt

In this cross-sectional study, Nápoles and colleagues conducted a telephone survey to identify high-yield physician colorectal cancer (CRC) screening counseling behaviors among Latino patients, a population with known CRC disparities and relatively low screening rates. Perceived strength of physicians’ recommendations for CRC screening was associated with patients’ reported CRC screening completion; explanation of CRC risks and tests was also associated with endoscopy screening. These findings have important practice implications; specific physician communication practices may improve CRC screening completion among Latinos, in addition to strategies addressing barriers such as lack of access to care, knowledge, and language concordance.1 …