The Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
BMC Gastroenterol. 2012 Aug 3;12:100. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-12-100.
Little data exists on the factors associated with health care seeking behaviour for primary symptoms of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to identify individual, provider and psychosocial factors associated with (i) ever seeking medical advice and (ii) seeking early medical advice for primary symptoms of colorectal cancer (CRC).
1592 persons aged 56-88 years randomly selected from the Hunter Community Study (HCS) were sent a questionnaire.
Males and those who had received screening advice from a doctor were at significantly higher odds of ever seeking medical advice for rectal bleeding. Persons who had private health coverage, consulted a doctor because the 'symptom was serious', or who did not wait to consult a doctor for another reason were at significantly higher odds of seeking early medical advice (< 2 weeks). For change in bowel habit, persons with lower income, within the healthy weight range, or who had discussed their family history of CRC irrespective of whether informed of 'increased risk' were at significantly higher odds of ever seeking medical advice. Persons frequenting their GP less often and seeing their doctor because the symptom persisted were at significantly higher odds of seeking early medical advice (< 2 weeks).
The seriousness of symptoms, importance of early detection, and prompt consultation must be articulated in health messages to at-risk persons. This study identified modifiable factors, both individual and provider-related to consultation behaviour. Effective health promotion efforts must heed these factors and target sub-groups less likely to seek early medical advice.
有关结直肠癌（CRC）主要症状的医疗保健寻求行为相关因素的数据很少。本研究旨在确定与（i）曾寻求医疗建议和（ii）寻求早期医疗建议有关的个体、提供者和心理社会因素。
从亨特社区研究（HCS）中随机选择了 1592 名年龄在 56-88 岁的人，并向他们发送了一份问卷。
男性和那些从医生那里获得过筛查建议的人更有可能因直肠出血而寻求医疗建议。那些有私人医疗保险、因“症状严重”而咨询医生或因其他原因不等候咨询医生的人更有可能寻求早期医疗建议（<2 周）。对于排便习惯的改变，收入较低、体重正常范围内或无论是否被告知“增加风险”，都讨论过其家族结直肠癌史的人更有可能寻求医疗建议。较少去看家庭医生且因症状持续存在而看医生的人更有可能寻求早期医疗建议（<2 周）。
必须在向高危人群传达健康信息时强调症状的严重性、早期检测的重要性和及时咨询。本研究确定了与咨询行为相关的可改变的个体和提供者因素。有效的健康促进工作必须注意这些因素，并针对不太可能寻求早期医疗建议的亚组。
