141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

290616
Predictors of anxiety among colonoscopy patients

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

Felix Lorenzo, BS , Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Jennifer Nguyen, MPH, CPH , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Tracey E. Barnett, PhD , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Amy Dailey, PhD, MPH , Health Sciences Department, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA
Thomas George Jr., MD , Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Evelyn King-Marshall, MPH , Department of Behavioral Science Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Emmett Martin, MPH, BA , Department of Behavioral Science Community Health, Unversity of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Jane McGinley, BA , College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Regina Reed , University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Gregory Riherd, BS , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Elisa M. Rodriguez, PhD, MS , Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, College of Public Health and Health Professions, Gainesville, FL
Jessica Schumacher, PhD , Health Services Research, Management, and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Shanaz Sultan, MD , Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Britany Telford, BS , Dept. Behavioral Science and Community Health, Unversity of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Mary Ellen Young, PhD , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Barbara Curbow, PhD , Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Background: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Given the benefits of early detection and treatment, the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend periodic screening. Anxiety before colorectal screenings may increase the risk of adverse consequences such as a need for higher sedation dosage and in some cases leads to incomplete procedures. This assessment aims to analyze possible predictors of anxiety for colonoscopy patients in rural Florida. Patients & Methods: Data are reported from the first 1118 participants enrolled from an ongoing study of 4300 colonoscopy patients. Enrolled participants completed a survey prior to the endoscopy procedure the day of. The pre-colonoscopy survey contains items on patient expectations regarding physician interaction, health perception including anxiety level, and procedure expectations. Results: A preliminary regression analysis model was conducted for the dependent variable: anxiety level before procedure (on a 1-10 scale; low anxiety and high anxiety respectively). Constant predictors analyzed included sex, number of previous colonoscopy screenings, physician/provider referring procedure, and race. The value of the correlation coefficient (R) is .211 squared with a statistically significant F-ratio from ANOVA (12.367, p<.001). Finally, the independent variables with significant impact on patient anxiety include race (African Americans) p<.001, 1st colonoscopy p<.001, primary care physician referrals p=.003, and sex (females) p=.008. Conclusion: African American patients, females, 1st time colonoscopy patients and those referred by their primary care physicians have a higher level of anxiety. The results carry implications linked to health disparities.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Name colonoscopy patients most at risk for experiencing anxiety. Identify patient barriers for colorectal cancer screening anxiety.

Keywords: Cancer Screening, Psychosocial Issues of Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a research assisstant on a funded grant focusing on colorectal cancer treatment and patient decision making. Furthermore, as a public health student I have been trained to examine barriers to health disparities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.