Knowledge, attitude and practice of interns and practitioners graduated from the Universities of Shaheed Beheshti, Tehran, Iran about colorectal cancer screening between 2014-2015

Introducation: Cancers are the third most common cause of death in Iran. Colorectal cancer is an ideal tumor for screening. Therefore, early diagnosis through screening can reduce its prevalence and mortality. On the other hand, knowledge of practitioners about screening programs has a direct relationship with their performance.
In a cross-sectional-educational study, knowledge, attitude and practice of practitioners about colorectal cancer screening were evaluated in the target population included 300 interns and graduated practitioners during 93-94 and were reviewed by using Chi2 and ANOVA statistical tests.
From 300 physicians surveyed, 17.3 percent knew the age of the screening for colorectal cancer, 73% knew the average-risk and 68% knew the high-risk criteria correctly. 48.3% of respondents recommended FOBT method for population at medium risk and 75% of respondents recommended colonoscopy as a screening method in high-risk populations. Ninety percent of physicians knew the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer. About half of the practitioners ask their patients about risk factors and advised them to undergo screening. 55.3% of practitioners that had family members who need screening decided to undergo screening and 6.3 percent of them who needs screening decided to perform screening.
According to the growing nature of colorectal cancer in the country, and that is the only cancer can be prevented and the results of this study which show practitioners have little knowledge of appropriate age of screening and screening methods and insufficient attitudes and actions, It is recommended to train general practitioners and family physicians who are the first line of encounter with the patients, are highly recommended.