Background: Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a critical role in reducing colorectal cancer (CRC) related morbidity and mortality. This study aimed at exploring the attitudes and knowledge of nurses and physicians working in primary care settings regarding CRC screening.
Methods: A total of 142 HCPs (57.7% nurses and 42.3% physicians) participated in a cross-sectional survey. Data were collected using a Self-administered Questionnaire. The participants were clinically experienced (mean = 9.39 years; standard deviation [SD] = 6.13), regularly taking care of adults eligible for CRC screening (62%) and had positive attitudes towards CRC screening (83.1%). Most participants (57%) had low levels of knowledge about CRC screening (mean = 3.23; SD = 1.50). The participants were most knowledgeable about the recommended age for initiating screening (62.7%) and the procedures not recommended for screening (90.8%).
Results: More than 55% did not know the frequency of performing specific screening procedures, the upper age limit at which screening is not recommended, and the patients at high-risk for CRC. There were no significant differences between nurses and physicians attitudes and knowledge. The participants perceptions about professional training (odds ratio [OR] = 2.17, P = 0.003), colonoscopy (OR = 2.60, P = 0.014), and double-contrast barium enema (OR = 0.53, P = 0.041), were significantly associated with knowledge about CRC screening.
Conclusions: The inadequate knowledge levels among nurses and physicians may be one of the barriers affecting CRC screening. Enhancing HCPs knowledge about CRC screening should be considered a primary intervention in the efforts to promote CRC screening and prevention.
Biography: Dr. Samira M. Ahmed has received her master degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, USA, and PhD degree from University of Pittsburgh, USA with emphasis on primary health care. During her PhD study, she participated in research grants with many faculty members of College of Nursing/ University of Pittsburgh. She worked for UNHCR in Iraq for 2 years. She left Iraq to Jordan to work as assistant professor at Jordan University of Science and Technology and she taught graduate and undergraduate programs for 4 years. In 2003, she got a request from the Dean of College of Medicine and Health Sciences to establish a nursing program at Sultan QaboosUniversoty in Oman, which became a college in 2009. She was assistant professor and Head of community and mental health department at until 2016. In addition to her administrative and teaching responsibilities, she conducted and published many research studies. Her area of research interest is in primary health services, prevention, protection and promotion of health care to the family and the community as a whole.
