Table 1.
Characteristics and responses from 30 Maryland primary care clinicians on decision-making about colorectal cancer surveillance in older patients with prior adenomas (data collection 10/2018-5/2019).
| Characteristics | Number (%) / Mean (SD) |
|---|---|
| Age, years | 48.2 (10.0) |
| Female sex | 16 (53%) |
| Race | |
| White | 18 (60%) |
| African American | 6 (20%) |
| Other | 6 (20%) |
| Degree | |
| Physician | 24 (80%) |
| Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner | 5 (17%) |
| Physician’s Assistant | 1 (3%) |
| Years since completing training | 17.5 (10.2) |
| Specialty | |
| Internal Medicine | 17 (57%) |
| Family Medicine | 6 (20%) |
| Medicine/Pediatrics | 2 (7%) |
| Geriatrics | 5 (17%) |
| Clinic site | |
| Urban | 13 (43%) |
| Suburban | 17 (57%) |
| Clinic type | |
| Clinics affiliated with academic university | 8 (27%) |
| Clinics within a large group practice | 14 (47%) |
| Solo clinics | 5 (17%) |
| House-call program for homebound patients | 1 (3%) |
| Program for All-inclusive Care of the Elderly | 2 (7%) |
| Proportion of patients ≥65 years old in patient panel | |
| <25% | 7 (23%) |
| 25% - 49% | 13 (43%) |
| 50% - 74% | 4 (13%) |
| >75% | 6 (20%) |
| Decision-making approach regarding surveillance in older patients with prior adenomasa | |
| Deferred to gastroenterology (GI) | 12 (40%) |
| Discussed with patient and/or GI to make decision together | 5 (17%) |
| Described stopping surveillance based on patient age, comorbidities, or life expectancy | 7 (23%) |
| Favored continued surveillance | 1 (3%) |
| Decision depended on specific patient characteristics | 3 (10%) |
a
Two participants did not give direct responses about decision-making around surveillance colonoscopies in the interviews.