Differing attitudes toward virtual and conventional colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening: Surveys among primary care physicians and potential patients

OBJECTIVES: To investigate attitudes among primary care physicians and pote ntial patients concerning "virtual" and conventional colonoscopy for colore ctal cancer screening. METHODS: We sent 1000 questionnaires to primary care physicians by electron ic or postal mail and administered 400 to potential patients. Questionnaire s contained progressively detailed information about the tests and asked fo r choices based on information presented. RESULTS: One hundred eight-eight primary care physicians and 323 potential patients were included. Results indicated the following: 76.6% of potential patients and 47.3% of physicians initially preferred virtual colonoscopy b ecause of its noninvasive nature; 23.6% of potential patients and 52.9% of physicians valued the ability of conventional colonoscopy to visualize the mucosa directly; and 67.4% of potential patients and 51.6% of physicians pr eferred virtual colonoscopy because it does not require sedation. Consideri ng all information, most potential patients preferred virtual to convention al colonoscopy (60.2% vs 25.7%), whereas more physicians preferred conventi onal to virtual colonoscopy (44.9% vs 30.3%). Additionally, 82.3% of potent ial patients would comply more with recommendations for colorectal cancer s creening, and 61.7% of physicians would refer more patients for screening, if virtual colonoscopy was available. CONCLUSIONS: Potential patients preferred virtual to conventional colonosco py, whereas physicians favored conventional colonoscopy. Physicians placed more importance on the ability of conventional colonoscopy to visualize the mucosa directly, the opportunity fur therapy, and cost. Potential patients were more encouraged than physicians by the availability of virtual colono scopy fur improving participation in colorectal cancer screening. (C) 2001 by Am. Cell. of Gastroenterology.