Role of Strong Social Support in Stool-Based Test Uptake for Colorectal Cancer Screening
Abstract
Background: Screening has been shown to be effective for preventing colorectal cancer (CRC). In 2021, less than 72% of adult Americans had received CRC screening based on the most recent guidelines. The stool-based tests (fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and fecal immunochemical test (FIT)) reduce mortality from CRC by 15–40%. This study examined the relationship between strong social support and stool-based test uptake for CRC screening among U.S. adults based on socioeconomic factors.
Methods: The 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for 19,954 U.S. adults were analyzed for stool-based test rates among individuals with strong, some, and weak social support. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to obtain the adjusted odds ratios of receiving a screening stool-based test among adults with different levels of socioeconomic factors based on strong social support.
Findings: There were 4,601 adults that reported ever having a stool-based test. Among these, 7.7% had weak social support, while 11.6% and 80.7% had some and strong social support respectively. In addition, among the seven socioeconomic factors analyzed, only age, education, and health insurance coverage were significantly associated with stool-based test uptake based on strong social support. Older individuals with greater than high school education and having health insurance coverage had higher odds of stool-based test uptake.
Conclusions: Having strong social support is an important factor for increasing screening stool-based test uptake. Policies and interventions that encourage strong social support among eligible adults for screening stool-based tests are needed.
Keywords
Social support, Stool-based test, FIT, FOBT, Colorectal cancer, Screening
Role of Strong Social Support in Stool-Based Test Uptake for Colorectal Cancer Screening
Background: Screening has been shown to be effective for preventing colorectal cancer (CRC). In 2021, less than 72% of adult Americans had received CRC screening based on the most recent guidelines. The stool-based tests (fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and fecal immunochemical test (FIT)) reduce mortality from CRC by 15–40%. This study examined the relationship between strong social support and stool-based test uptake for CRC screening among U.S. adults based on socioeconomic factors.
Methods: The 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for 19,954 U.S. adults were analyzed for stool-based test rates among individuals with strong, some, and weak social support. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to obtain the adjusted odds ratios of receiving a screening stool-based test among adults with different levels of socioeconomic factors based on strong social support.
Findings: There were 4,601 adults that reported ever having a stool-based test. Among these, 7.7% had weak social support, while 11.6% and 80.7% had some and strong social support respectively. In addition, among the seven socioeconomic factors analyzed, only age, education, and health insurance coverage were significantly associated with stool-based test uptake based on strong social support. Older individuals with greater than high school education and having health insurance coverage had higher odds of stool-based test uptake.
Conclusions: Having strong social support is an important factor for increasing screening stool-based test uptake. Policies and interventions that encourage strong social support among eligible adults for screening stool-based tests are needed.
