Factors of Never Screened with Faecal Occult Blood Test in Public Primary Care Facilities

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, Faculty Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia.

2 Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia.

3 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

4 Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is still a major public health threat. In the effort to reduce CRC incidence and mortality, faecal occult blood test (FOBT) is currently the screening tools used for early detection of CRC. However, the uptake of FOBT screening is less than promising. This study aims to identify the prevalence and predictors of Never Screened with FOBT (NS-FOBT). Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in five health clinics under Kota Kinabalu district, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo involving 162 attendees with age of 50 years old and above. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of NS-FOBT. Results: The prevalence of NS-FOBT was 85.8% (n=139). Important predictors of NS-FOBT were age (aOR: 0.922; 95% CI: 0.855, 0.995; p=0.035), Bumiputera ethnicity (vs Non Bumiputera; aOR: 4.285; 95% CI: 1.384, 13.263; p=0.012), knowledge score (aOR: 0.921; 95% CI: 0.856, 0.99; p=0.027), and attitude score (aOR: 0.801; 95% CI: 0.702, 0.913; p=0.001). Conclusion: There is high prevalence of NS-FOBT. Age, ethnicity, knowledge, and attitude were important predictors of NS-FOBT. Strategies are needed to improve FOBT screening rate among the public. Socio-culturally tailored health promotion strategies as well as strengthening the communication, collaboration, and education to enhance the role of family physician is vital in improving the CRC prevention and care.

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Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 22, Issue 1
January 2021
Pages 163-169

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 September 2020
  • Revise Date: 06 January 2021
  • Accept Date: 23 January 2021

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