Table 2. Colorectal Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes, and Screening Behaviors Among Chinese Participants in a Traditional Chinese Medicine Outreach Program (n = 57).
| Variables | Preintervention, n (%) | Postintervention, n (%) | P Valuea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge | |||
| Ever heard of colon cancer | 30 (52.6) | 45 (79.0) | <.001 |
| Ever heard of colon polyp | 37 (64.9) | 48 (84.2) | <.001 |
| Ever heard of FOBT | 37 (64.9) | 39 (68.4) | .58 |
| Ever heard of sigmoidoscopy | 35 (61.4) | 43 (75.4) | .05 |
| Ever heard of colonoscopy | 39 (68.4) | 48 (84.2) | <.001 |
| Ever heard of FOBT, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy | 46 (80.7) | 53 (93.0) | <.001 |
| Colorectal cancer screening should start at age 50 | 31 (54.3) | 38 (66.7) | <.001 |
| FOBT should be done yearly | 21 (36.8) | 34 (59.7) | <.001 |
| Sigmoidoscopy should be done every 5 years | 14 (24.6) | 24 (42.1) | <.001 |
| Colonoscopy should be done every 10 years | 8 (14.0) | 23 (40.4) | <.001 |
| Beliefs | |||
| Causes of colorectal cancer | |||
| Fatty diet | 47 (82.5) | 48 (84.2) | .74 |
| Lack of physical activity | 30 (52.6) | 33 (57.9) | .17 |
| Alcohol | 21 (36.8) | 27 (47.4) | .15 |
| Heredity | 20 (35.1) | 33 (57.9) | .08 |
| Older age | 15 (26.3) | 16 (28.1) | .73 |
| Colon polyps | 37 (64.9) | 47 (82.5) | .05 |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | 27 (47.4) | 29 (50.9) | .38 |
| Negative emotions | 18 (31.6) | 20 (35.1) | .51 |
| Fate, God’s will | 3 (5.3) | 5 (8.8) | .65 |
| How to prevent colorectal cancer | |||
| Exercise | 32 (56.1) | 35 (61.4) | .06 |
| Eat more fiber and vegetables | 45 (79.0) | 49 (86.0) | .29 |
| Take aspirin | 6 (10.5) | 13 (22.8) | .14 |
| Get medical tests to find blood or colon polyps | 45 (79.0) | 41 (71.9) | .15 |
| Have regular bowel movements | 44 (77.2) | 50 (87.7) | .20 |
| See a traditional Chinese healer | 13 (22.8) | 16 (28.1) | .52 |
| Take traditional Chinese herbs | 19 (33.3) | 21 (36.8) | .62 |
| Keep a positive attitude | 31 (54.4) | 24 (42.1) | .11 |
| Attitudes | |||
| CRC screening is an important thing to do | 56 (98.3) | 54 (94.7) | .06 |
| Completing CRC screening is easy to do | 42 (73.7) | 40 (70.2) | .51 |
| Finding time to complete CRC screening is difficult | 28 (50.0) | 21 (37.5) | .13 |
| CRC screening may be physically uncomfortable | 33 (57.9) | 26 (45.6) | .04 |
| Intend to complete CRC screening | 44 (77.2) | 48 (84.2) | .11 |
| Colon cancer screening status | |||
| Ever had FOBT | 38 (66.7) | 45 (79.0) | <.001 |
| Ever had sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy | 16 (28.1) | 19 (33.3) | .06 |
| Ever had FOBT, sigmoid, or colonoscopy | 41 (71.9) | 47 (82.5) | <.001 |
| Up-to-date FOBT, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopyb | 40 (70.2) | 45 (79.0) | .043 |
Abbreviations: FOBT, fecal occult blood test; CRC, colorectal cancer.
a
P value accounts for clustering by provider.
b
The United States Preventive Services Task Force screening guidelines were the basis for determining up-to-date screening status (23).