National Surveys of Colorectal Cancer Screening Policies & Practices

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the US, with 155,800 new cases and 52,000 deaths projected for 2007. In the late 1990s, evidence emerging from clinical studies prompted several groups to issue or revise recommendations for CRC screening. There is a consensus that average-risk adults aged 50 years and older should be screened for CRC. Despite evidence in support of screening guidelines, national surveys indicate that one half of adults aged 50 and older are not up to date with recommended screenings. NCI periodically fields national studies of physician knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding CRC screening and health plans' screening recommendations, guidelines, and policies.

NCI launched the National Survey of Colorectal Cancer Screening Practices in 1999 in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (see Study Objective and Research Questions). The Survey of Health Plan Policies and Programs for Colorectal Cancer Screening was fielded between November 2005 and April 2006.