Background: The rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in the United States continues to be low, allowing colorectal cancers to remain undiagnosed and mortality rates to remain high. Current literature points to lack of education, healthcare access, and physician counseling as key barriers to screening, in addition to cognitive-emotional apprehensions.
Objectives: This study examined whether cognitive-emotional apprehensions are barriers to screening despite physician recommendation. Moreover, it examined what particular cognitive-emotional barriers inhibit participation and how these barriers can potentially be alleviated.
Methods: A convenience sample of 40 faculty members at Eastern Michigan University were surveyed about attitudes toward screening.
Results: One half of non-screeners reported that cognitive-emotional apprehensions limited their participation in screening tests. Predictors of adherence included concerns about embarrassment or modesty, concerns about test preparation, fear of pain, and fear of finding cancer.
Conclusions: Cognitive-emotional apprehensions are significant barriers to CRC screening and may be improved by patient counseling.
","abstract_html":"<p>Background: The rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in the United States continues to be low, allowing colorectal cancers to remain undiagnosed and mortality rates to remain high. Current literature points to lack of education, healthcare access, and physician counseling as key barriers to screening, in addition to cognitive-emotional apprehensions.</p> <p>Objectives: This study examined whether cognitive-emotional apprehensions are barriers to screening despite physician recommendation. Moreover, it examined what particular cognitive-emotional barriers inhibit participation and how these barriers can potentially be alleviated.</p> <p>Methods: A convenience sample of 40 faculty members at Eastern Michigan University were surveyed about attitudes toward screening.</p> <p>Results: One half of non-screeners reported that cognitive-emotional apprehensions limited their participation in screening tests. Predictors of adherence included concerns about embarrassment or modesty, concerns about test preparation, fear of pain, and fear of finding cancer.</p> <p>Conclusions: Cognitive-emotional apprehensions are significant barriers to CRC screening and may be improved by patient counseling.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Krzyzaniak, Cari N"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Health Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Stephen A. Sonstein, PhD, Chair"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2008,"date_issued":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z","subjects":["Medical screening","Colon (Anatomy) Cancer Diagnosis","Health behavior","Community Health and Preventive Medicine"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/213","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Stephen A. Sonstein, PhD, Chair"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Krzyzaniak, Cari N"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Health Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Medical screening","Colon (Anatomy) Cancer Diagnosis","Health behavior","Community Health and Preventive Medicine"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/213"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Background: The rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in the United States continues to be low, allowing colorectal cancers to remain undiagnosed and mortality rates to remain high. Current literature points to lack of education, healthcare access, and physician counseling as key barriers to screening, in addition to cognitive-emotional apprehensions.
Objectives: This study examined whether cognitive-emotional apprehensions are barriers to screening despite physician recommendation. Moreover, it examined what particular cognitive-emotional barriers inhibit participation and how these barriers can potentially be alleviated.
Methods: A convenience sample of 40 faculty members at Eastern Michigan University were surveyed about attitudes toward screening.
Results: One half of non-screeners reported that cognitive-emotional apprehensions limited their participation in screening tests. Predictors of adherence included concerns about embarrassment or modesty, concerns about test preparation, fear of pain, and fear of finding cancer.
Conclusions: Cognitive-emotional apprehensions are significant barriers to CRC screening and may be improved by patient counseling.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Cognitive and emotional barriers to colorectal cancer surveillance: Increasing screening rates within the community"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Stephen A. Sonstein, PhD, Chair"],"dc:creator":["Krzyzaniak, Cari N"],"dc:description.abstract":["Background: The rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in the United States continues to be low, allowing colorectal cancers to remain undiagnosed and mortality rates to remain high. Current literature points to lack of education, healthcare access, and physician counseling as key barriers to screening, in addition to cognitive-emotional apprehensions.
Objectives: This study examined whether cognitive-emotional apprehensions are barriers to screening despite physician recommendation. Moreover, it examined what particular cognitive-emotional barriers inhibit participation and how these barriers can potentially be alleviated.
Methods: A convenience sample of 40 faculty members at Eastern Michigan University were surveyed about attitudes toward screening.
Results: One half of non-screeners reported that cognitive-emotional apprehensions limited their participation in screening tests. Predictors of adherence included concerns about embarrassment or modesty, concerns about test preparation, fear of pain, and fear of finding cancer.
Conclusions: Cognitive-emotional apprehensions are significant barriers to CRC screening and may be improved by patient counseling.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/213"],"dc:subject":["Medical screening","Colon (Anatomy) Cancer Diagnosis","Health behavior","Community Health and Preventive Medicine"],"dc:title":["Cognitive and emotional barriers to colorectal cancer surveillance: Increasing screening rates within the community"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Health Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:36Z"}