Colorectal Cancer Screening: Prevalence and Predictors of Adherence in Department of Energy Workers

Objective: To assess colorectal cancer screening (CRC) practices in Department of Energy (DOE) workers enrolled in an occupational medical screening program. Methods: A telephone survey adapted from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2020 questionnaire, addressing CRC screening history and CRC high risk conditions, was administered to participants aged 45–85 years, over 4 months in 2023. CRC screening adherence was reported as frequencies and percentages, and predictors of adherence as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Overall, 823 (81%) of 1015 respondents reported a CRC screening history adherent to United States Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines. Age [45–59 years: AOR: 0.3 (0.2, 0.6), 60–69 years: AOR: 0.8 (0.5, 1.3), >75 years: AOR: 0.5 (0.3, 0.9) vs. 70–75 years], being high-risk for CRC [AOR: 2.6 (1.4, 5.0)], and geographic region of residence [South AOR: 2.0 (1.3, 2.9), Midwest AOR: 1.3 (0.8, 2.2), and East AOR: 3.3 (0.4, 26.4) vs. West] were associated with adherence to USPSTF CRC screening guidelines. Conclusion: Lower adherence to CRC screening recommendations among younger workers who are experiencing an increasing incidence in CRC offers occupational medicine programs an excellent opportunity to encourage CRC screening adherence among younger workers and thereby decrease the morbidity associated with colorectal cancer.