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Table 6 Socio-demographic, knowledge and attitudes associated with intention to screen for bowel cancer with FOBT

From: Colorectal cancer screening knowledge, attitudes and behavioural intention among Indigenous Western Australians

Survey item

Total (n)

% Yes (n)a

OR (95% CI)

p-value

Gender (n = 92)

Male

21

61.9 (13)

1

0.902

Female

71

63.4 (45)

1.07 (0.39-2.91)

 

Age in years^ + (n = 90)

Up to 44

24

54.2 (13)

1

0.277

45+

66

66.7 (44)

1.69 (0.65-4.39)

 

Marital status^ + (n = 86)

Married or de-facto

48

81.3 (39)

5.96 (2.26-15.71)

<0.0001*

Widowed/divorced/single

38

42.1 (16)

1

 

Employment status (n = 91)

Employed

34

79.4 (27)

3.14 (1.15-8.58)

0.022*

Not employed

49

55.1 (27)

1

 

Education (n = 90)

7 years or less (primary school or less)

25

48.0 (12)

1

0.043*

8 or more years (some high school or more)

65

70.8 (46)

2.62 (1.02-6.78)

 

Annual Income (n = 75)

Less than $20,000

42

57.1 (24)

1

0.048*

$20,000 or more

33

78.8 (26)

2.79 (0.99-7.84)

 

Self-rated English reading ability (n = 90)

Poor or fair

24

54.2 (13)

1

0.277

Good, very good or excellent

66

66.7 (44)

1.69 (0.65-4.39)

 

Last time you saw a doctor^ + (n = 89)

In the past year

82

68.3 (56)

5.39 (0.98-29.6)

0.047 # *

Over a year ago

7

28.6 (2)

1

 

Frequency of doctor visits (n = 91)

Once a year or less

20

50.0 (10)

1

0.148

Couple of times a year or more

71

67.9 (48)

2.09 (0.76-5.7)

 

Participated in any cancer screening in past 2 years^ (n = 89)

No/not sure

44

47.7 (21)

1

0.003*

Yes

45

77.8 (35)

3.83 (1.53-9.6)

 

Self-rated current health status (n = 90)

Poor-fair

43

67.4 (29)

1

0.439

Good-excellent

47

59.6 (28)

0.71 (0.3-1.69)

 

Ever had a colonoscopy^ + (n = 91)

No/don’t know

77

58.4 (45)

1

0.014*

Yes

14

92.9 (13)

9.24 (1.15-74.28)

 

Seen media advertising on bowel cancer screening^+ (n = 91)

No/don’t know

59

57.6 (34)

1

0.100

Yes

32

75.0 (24)

2.20 (0.85-5.72)

 

Knows someone in family with cancer^+ (n = 90)

No/don’t know

38

50.0 (19)

1

0.025*

Yes

52

73.1 (38)

2.71 (1.12-6.56)

 

Ever heard of bowel cancer before^+ (n = 91)

No/don’t know

20

45.0 (9)

1

0.048*

Yes

71

69.0 (49)

2.72 (0.99-7.5)

 

Ever heard of bowel cancer screening test^+ (prompted) (n = 90)

No/don’t know

63

57.1 (36)

1

0.027*

Yes

27

81.5 (22)

3.30 (1.11-9.83)

 

Aware bowel cancer/polyps can be asymptomatic (n = 90)

No/don’t know

40

50.0 (20)

1

0.016*

Yes

51

74.5 (38)

2.92 (1.21-7.07)

 

Bowel cancer knowledge+

Bowel cancer knowledge score (n = 92)

0-11 (Low)

26

26.9 (7)

1

X 2 [2]=20.3

12-15 (Medium)

29

75.9 (22)

8.50 (2.5-28.7)

 

16-18 (High)

37

78.4 (29)

9.80 (3.1-31.6)

<0.0001*

Perceived self-efficacy^

How confident do you feel to complete FOBT test (n = 92)

Not confident-somewhat confident

43

34.9 (15)

1

<0.0001*

Confident-very confident

49

87.8 (43)

13.40 (4.6-38.6)

 

Perceived susceptibility^

Thinks they are at risk of bowel cancer (n = 91)

No/don’t know

62

56.5 (35)

1

0.035*

Yes

29

79.3 (23)

2.96 (1.06-8.3)

 

Perceived severity

Do you think bowel cancer can be cured if found early?^+ (n = 92)

No/don’t know

17

35.3 (6)

1

0.009*

Yes

75

69.3 (52)

4.15 (1.37-12.57)

 

The thought of bowel cancer scares you (n = 82)b

Disagree

7

57.1 (4)

1

0.703#

Agree

75

64.0 (48)

1.33 (0.28-6.40)

 

If you had bowel cancer your whole life would change (n = 80)b

Disagree

11

81.8 (9)

2.72 (0.55-13.5)

0.312#

Agree

69

62.3 (43)

1

 

Fatalistic attitude

Getting cancer is like being sentenced to death (n = 79)

Disagree

40

75.0 (30)

2.32 (0.89-6.03)

0.082

Agree

39

56.4 (22)

1

 

Shame

You would feel ashamed if you found out you had bowel cancer (n = 76)b

Disagree

54

77.8 (42)

5.05 (1.74-14.7)

0.003*

Agree

22

40.9 (9)

1

 

Perceived benefits

Doing a bowel cancer screening test can reduce chance of dying from bowel cancer (n = 83)b

Disagree

6

66.7 (4)

1

1.0#

Agree

77

67.5 (52)

1.040 (0.18-6.06)

 
  1. FOBT - faecal occult blood test. OR – odds ratio.
  2. *Significant at p ≤ 0.05.
  3. #Fisher’s Exact Test.
  4. ^Variables included in first step of Model 1 of multivariate logistic regression.
  5. +Variables included in first step of Model 2 of multivariate logistic regression.
  6. aRefers to percentage of respondents who answered yes to the screening intent item, Would you consider doing an FOBT/bowel screening test in the next 6-12 months?
  7. bExcludes those who selected don’t know/unsure.