Impact of family history of cancer on colorectal cancer screening: a propensity score-matched analysis from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS)

Early detection of colon cancer leads to better survival outcomes. This can be achieved through colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. People with a family history of cancer (FHC) have increased risk of developing CRC. Increasing screening in this group will reduce CRC mortality. This study evaluated CRC screening in people with FHC. The study used data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, cycle 3. This is an annual cross-sectional survey with a nationally representative sample of American adults. The objective was to study the association between FHC and performing CRC screening. Propensity score matching was used to create a matched population with variables that constituted beliefs in cancer from the survey. Replication procedure, which is based on repeated sampling and allows for accurate computation of standard errors, was used for calculating statistical tests. Multivariable models were fitted in the matched population to assess the association between FHC and performing CRC screening. People with FHC were 14% (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 0.81–1.60) more likely to perform CRC screening than those without FHC, even though not statistically significant. Age in years (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.12–5.27) had increased likelihood of performing CRC screening, while other races such as American Indians/Alaskan Natives (except African Americans) compared to Caucasians (OR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.29–0.84) had significantly decreased likelihood of performing CRC screening. FHC was not significantly associated with having a colorectal cancer screening test. Public health advocacy should be directed towards increasing awareness of CRC screening among people with FHC.