Cancer of the colon and rectum: public misconceptions and a gap in doctor-patient communications

Abstract

What can doctors do to reduce the death rate among the estimated 126,000 persons who will develop colon-rectum cancer in 1983? At present rates, 29,500 females and 27,600 males will die this year from cancers at these sites. One answer to this question may lie in patient-physician communication, and in the capability of doctors to deal with patient attitudes toward colo-rectal examinations and on their knowledge of what people in this country believe in regard to colon-rectum cancer. This article presents findings from an American Cancer Society survey which examined patient attitudes and knowledge in regard to colon-rectum cancer and provides insights on patient attitudes and beliefs useful to the physician in discussing this subject with patients.