To the Editor: A nationwide colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program will commence in 2006. It has been shown that general practitioners can influence their patients in the decision to have CRC screening.1,2 There are several screening test options in Australia, and the relative geographical isolation of rural centres may influence attitudes and participation.
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- 1 Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA.
- 2 University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.
Correspondence: gbturner@doctors.org.uk
- 1. Salkeld GP, Solomon MJ, Short L, Ward J. Measuring the importance of attributes that influence consumer attitudes to colorectal cancer screening. ANZ J Surg 2003; 73: 128-132.
- 2. Thomas RJ, Clarke VA. Colorectal cancer: a survey of community beliefs and behaviours in Victoria. Med J Aust 1998; 169: 37-40.
- 3. Ling BS, Moskowitz MA, Wachs D, et al. Attitudes toward colorectal cancer screening tests. J Gen Intern Med 2001; 16: 822-830.
- 4. Australian Cancer Network Colorectal Cancer Guidelines Revision Committee. Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer (CRC). 2nd ed. Sydney: The Cancer Council Australia and Australian Cancer Network, 2005. http://www.cancer.org.au/content.cfm?randid=408243 (accessed Jun 2006).
- 5. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australia’s bowel cancer screening pilot and beyond. Final evaluation report. Bowel Cancer Screening Pilot Monitoring and Evaluation Steering Committee, October 2005. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2005. http://www.cancerscreening.gov.au/internet/screening/publishing.nsf/Content/eval-oct05-cnt/$File/eval-oct05.pdf (accessed Aug 2006).
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