Awareness and misconceptions of colorectal cancer risk factors among laypersons and physicians

536 Background: The aim of EDIFICE surveys is to improve insight into the behavior of the French population with regard to cancer prevention and participation in screening programs. The colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program is in place and targets the 50-74-yr age group. CRC prevention also relies on increased awareness of known risk factors (behavioral [BRF] or non-behavioral [NBRF]). This analysis focuses on awareness of CRC risk factors among the lay population and physicians. Methods: The 4th nationwide observational survey was conducted by phone interviews using the quota method. A representative sample of 1463 individuals with no history of cancer (age, 40-75 yrs) was interviewed between June 12 and July 10, 2014. A mirror survey on a representative sample of 301 physicians was conducted between July 9 and August 8, 2014. Interviewees were asked to cite the five main RF for CRC. Results: Heredity/family history of CRC was widely cited by physicians but far less by laypersons (LP) (95.3% vs. 26.1%, P < 0.01). Digestive disorders, age, polyps and Crohn’s disease were also cited as NBRF by 38.2%, 22.9%, 15.3% and 12.3% of physicians, respectively. In comparison, these RF were very rarely cited by LP (5.4%, 1.5%, 1.7% and 0.1%, respectively, P < 0.01). Unhealthy-lifestyle RF were cited by 86.4% and 52.7% of physicians and LP, respectively (P < 0.01): poor eating habits, ranked first for both physicians and LP (80.1 vs 46.8%, P < 0.01), including unbalanced or excessively rich diet (52.8% vs. 41.2%, P < 0.01) and excessive quantities of red meat (12.6% vs. 2.2%, P < 0.01). Among unhealthy-lifestyle RF, after poor eating habits, physicians cited first tobacco (24.3%), then alcohol (19.9%), and lack of exercise (14.6%) as other BRF. These were cited by 12.2% (P < 0.01), 16.0% (NS) and 4.7% (P < 0.01) of LP, respectively. Overweight/obesity was cited by 19.6% of physicians but by only 1.8% of LP. Conclusions: Overall, there is a lower level of awareness of CRC risk factors in lay persons than in physicians. Physicians are generally aware that heredity/family history and unhealthy lifestyle are the major RF for CRC, in line with the widely recognized RF. In contrast, lay persons rank BRF highest, and notably those related to poor eating habits.