The knowledge on colorectal cancer screening and risk factors among general practitioners

Background. In the World the frequent reason of mortality is cancer. In many countries where good cancer screening programs are provided 80% of cases are detected at early stage, results in 40-50% of successful recovery. But in Poland detection of cancers at early stage is still low - 20%. Material and method. Family Medicine Department of University of Medical Sciences in Poznan created an own course for family doctors which aim is to increase the quality of service in Primary Healthcare. The course includes early detection of certain diseases e.g. colorectal cancer. The program is financed by European Economic Area (EEA). The study group was consisted of 60 family doctors from Wielkopolska region. Their knowledge about the most common cancers, include colorectal cancer, was assessed using an author's questionnaire. Results. In the questionnaire, in questions about risk factors of colon cancer the authors obtained 234 answers, 57% were the right answers. To the question about screening program, which detects colon cancer at early stage, is meant for family doctors the authors obtained 177 answers, 61% were the right answers. Conclusion. The knowledge about risk factors and screening program for colon cancer is still insufficient, and needs to be improved. It means that family doctors need to improve the skills for screening in accordance with family doctor's competences as well as improve the knowledge of risk factors and methods of early detecting colon cancer. All this activities will lead to decrease the mortality of colon cancer in Polish population.