Data Source: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
NHIS questions on colorectal cancer screening are included in the survey periodically. For the purposes of this project, colorectal cancer screening is defined as follows: Individuals who report that they have ever had a colonoscopy, or ever had a sigmoidoscopy, or had a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the past year either at home or at a doctor' office. Numerator: The measure is the individuals who report that they have ever had a colonoscopy, or ever had a sigmoidoscopy, or had a FOBT in the past year either at home or at a doctor' office. Denominator: Sampled adults age 50-75.
For more information on how ethnicity was defined, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 17 Apr 2012
For more information on how race was defined, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 17 Apr 2012
Disability was defined according to the standard questions used in the American Community Survey. An individual was identified as having a disability if any of the following conditions existed: is deaf or has serious difficulty hearing; is blind or has serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses; has difficulty dressing or bathing; has serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions; has serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs; has difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping.
Last updated 17 Apr 2012
Poverty is defined by Census Bureau poverty thresholds. For more information on the definition of poverty, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 17 Apr 2012
For more information on how chronic conditions were defined, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 17 Apr 2012
For more information on how regions are defined, please see the Glossary under Help.
Last updated 17 Apr 2012
Measure Methodology Change: For 2000 and 2005, respondents are asked if they ever had sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy/proctoscopy as a single question. In 2010, respondents are asked about sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy as separate questions, as well as additional questions regarding screening.
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Inclusion Criteria: NHIS sample adults age 40 and older.
Exclusion Criteria: NHIS sample adults age 18-39. Individuals who were unsure of whether they had received the specified screening.
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The colorectal cancer screening questions have been included on the NHIS periodically, with variations in the sets of questions. Not all years included questions on colorectal cancer screening or questions that are directly comparable, which is why only certain years of data appear of this measure. Beginning in 2011, the NHIS will include annually one combined colorectal cancer screening question that asks about three types of testing -- fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. However, this question represents a significant change from how the question has been asked in the past and as a result, the 2011 question is likely to result in different estimates of colorectal cancer screening rates, compared with previous estimates. This change in question methodology will be noted when future data are added to this measure.
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This measure is calculated by the CDC/National Center for Health Statistics from the National Health Interview Survey.