The Relationship Between Obtaining Fecal Occult Blood Test And Beliefs Regarding Testing Among Japanese

Purpose: We examined the relationship between fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening behavior and beliefs regarding FOBT screening in order to formulate effective measures to improve FOBT screening rates. Method: In June 2010, we conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 600 randomly selected individuals aged 40-60 years who were registered participants of Refine, which was an internet research company to cooperate with this study. We assessed CRC knowledge, perceived risk of CRC, perceived severity of CRC, concern for CRC, beliefs of FOBT screening, FOBT screening behavior, and demographic variables. Result: There were 592 valid responses (from 294 males and 298 females; mean age 53.96 +/- 8.39) in the final analysis. A total of 266 (44.9%) underwent FOBT in the year preceding the survey. Factor analysis relating to the beliefs of obtaining FOBT demonstrated five factors (alpha = 0.829) including: (1) perceived barrier, (2) subjective norms, (3) low importance, (4) descriptive norms, and (5) non-necessity. Descriptive norms were found to be a promoting factor (OR = 1.18, Cl = 1.09-1.28), and perceived barrier (OR = 0.88, Cl = 0.84-0.94) and low importance (OR = 0.91, Cl = 0.82-0.99) were inhibiting factors of FOBT screening behavior. Conclusion: This study suggests the following three actions can effectively improve the cancer screening rate: (1) promotion of public awareness that everyone should be regularly screened for cancer, (2) informing the public about the ease of obtaining FOBT, and (3) promotion of the importance of FOBT.