Delivery of Cancer Screening: How Important Is the Preventive Health Examination?

Citation

Fenton, Joshua J.; Cai, Yong; Weiss, Noel S.; Elmore, Joann G.; Pardee, Roy E.; Reid, Robert J.; & Baldwin, Laura-Mae (2007). Delivery of Cancer Screening: How Important Is the Preventive Health Examination?. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167(6), 580-585. PMCID: PMC3443471

Abstract

Background: Patients and physicians strongly endorse the importance of preventive or periodic health examinations (PHEs). However, the extent to which PHEs contribute to the delivery of cancer screening is uncertain.
Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, we determined the association between receipt of a PHE and cancer testing in a population-based sample of enrollees in a Washington State health plan who were aged 52 to 78 years and eligible for colorectal, breast, or prostate cancer screening in 2002-2003 (N = 64 288). Outcomes included completion of any colorectal cancer testing (fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or barium enema), screening mammography, and prostate-specific antigen testing.
Results: More than half (52.4%) of the enrollees received a PHE during the study period. After adjusting for demographics, comorbidity, number of outpatient visits, and historical preventive service use before January 1, 2002, receipt of a PHE was significantly associated with completion of colorectal cancer testing (incidence difference, 40.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 39.4%-41.3%]; relative incidence, 3.47 [95% CI, 3.34-3.59]), screening mammography [incidence difference, 14.2% [95% CI, 12.7%-15.7%]; relative incidence, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.20-1.25]), and prostate-specific antigen testing (incidence difference, 39.4% [95% CI, 38.3%-40.5%]; relative incidence, 3.06 [95% CI, 2.95-3.18]).
Conclusions: Among managed care enrollees eligible for cancer screening, PHE receipt is associated with completion of colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer testing. In similar populations, the PHE may serve as a clinically important forum for the promotion of evidence-based colorectal cancer and breast cancer screening and of screening with relatively less empirical support, such as prostate cancer screening.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.167.6.580

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2007

Journal Title

Archives of Internal Medicine

Author(s)

Fenton, Joshua J.
Cai, Yong
Weiss, Noel S.
Elmore, Joann G.
Pardee, Roy E.
Reid, Robert J.
Baldwin, Laura-Mae

PMCID

PMC3443471

ORCiD

Cai - 0000-0001-5037-763X