Journal article
Is the Accuracy of Self-Reported Colorectal Cancer Screening Associated with Social Desirability?
Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention, v 21(1), pp 61-65
01 Jan 2012
PMCID: PMC3268255
PMID: 22144501
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background: Self-reported cancer screening behaviors are often overreported and may lead to biased estimates of prevalence and of subgroup differences in screening. We examined whether the tendency to give socially desirable responses was associated with concordance between self-reported colorectal cancer (CRC) screening behaviors and medical records.
Methods: Primary care patients (n = 857) age 50 to 74 years completed a mail, face-to-face, or telephone survey that assessed CRC screening and social desirability measured by a short version of the Marlowe-Crowne scale. We used medical records to verify self-reports of fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and barium enema.
Results: Social desirability scores were lower for whites versus African Americans, college graduates, and patients reporting no prior screening tests; they were higher for telephone versus mail or face-to-face survey respondents. In univariable logistic regression analysis, social desirability scores were not associated with concordance for FOBT (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.94-1.13), sigmoidoscopy (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.86-1.04), or colonoscopy (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.88-1.11); however, lower social desirability scores were associated with increased concordance for barium enema (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.77-0.99). In multivariable analyses, no associations were statistically significant.
Conclusion: Social desirability as measured by the Marlowe-Crowne scale was not associated with accuracy of self-reported CRC tests in our sample, suggesting that other explanations for overreporting need to be explored.
Impact: By understanding sources of response bias, we can improve the accuracy of self-report measures. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(1); 61-65. (C) 2011 AACR.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Is the Accuracy of Self-Reported Colorectal Cancer Screening Associated with Social Desirability?
- Creators
- Sally W. Vernon - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionPeter N. Abotchie - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAmy McQueen - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionArica White - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionJan M. Eberth - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionSharon P. Coan - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Publication Details
- Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention, v 21(1), pp 61-65
- Publisher
- Amer Assoc Cancer Research
- Number of pages
- 5
- Grant note
- 08-222-01-CPPB / American Cancer Society R25CA057712 / NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) University of Texas School of Public Health Cancer Education U48DP000057 / NATIONAL CENTER FOR CHRONIC DISEASE PREV AND HEALTH PROMO; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA R25CA57712 / National Cancer Institute; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) PRC SIP 19-04 U48 DP000057 / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000299051500006
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84855499933
- Other Identifier
- 991021855183204721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Oncology
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health