Gender Differences in Knowledge and Attitude of Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) in Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African Americans

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of death for African Americans but the rate of screening for the disease is relatively low, with more women than men generally receiving screening. Avoidance of screening has been attributed to the bowel prep required and invasive nature of most screening procedures. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) offers an alternative without these drawbacks. The purpose of this study was to answer the question: Among African Americans over the age of 50, is there a gender difference in attitudes towards and knowledge about the fecal immunochemical test for colorectal cancer screening? Using a modified version of the Survey of Colorectal Cancer Educational and Environmental Needs questionnaire, 80 African Americans over the age of 50 and equally distributed by gender were recruited from a barbershop, beauty salon, and church to participate in the study. The findings showed men have a more positive attitude towards colorectal cancer screening and the FIT. The findings also showed no differences between the genders in knowledge of colorectal cancer screening. An implication for nursing from the results of the study is the need for better education for African Americans over the age of 50 concerning the benefits of CRC screening and the use of the FIT. Future research should focus on identifying approaches to overcome the specific barriers that African Americans over the age of 50 perceive concerning the use of the FIT.