A questionnaire-based survey on screening for gastric and colorectal cancer by physicians in east Asian countries in 2010

• Main Authors: Yuji Naito, Kazuhiko Uchiyama, Yoshikazu Kinoshita, Shin Fukudo, Takashi Joh, Hidekazu Suzuki, Shin'ichi Takahashi, Fumiaki Ueno, Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Tetsuo Arakawa, Takayuki Matsumoto, Ki Baik Hahm, Udom Kachintorn, Ari Fahrial Syam, Abdul Aziz Rani, Jose D. Sollano, Qi Zhu
• Other Authors: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Format: Review
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Medicine
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/14721
• Institution: Mahidol University

Background: The incidence of gastric cancer (GC) is high, and colorectal cancer (CRC) has significantly increased in Asian countries. Aim: To examine the current screening for GC and CRC within East Asia by means of a questionnaire survey. Methods: Representative members of the Committee of the International Gastrointestinal Consensus Symposium provided a questionnaire to physicians in six East Asian countries. Results: A total of 449 physicians participated in this survey. In all countries, more than 70% of physicians started GC screening between 40 and 59 years. The most popular method to screen for GC was endoscopy (92.7%), but combination methods such as Helicobacter pylori (HP) antibody, barium X-ray, and tumor marker with endoscopy differed by country. For HP-positive individuals, most physicians screened every year by endoscopy, and for individuals post-HP eradication, about half of physicians (56.3%) thought there was a need to follow-up with GC screening. Among all physicians, the most common age to start CRC screening was in the 40s (39.8%) and 50s (40.9%). Based on the American Cancer Society Recommendations, a fecal occult blood test every year was the most popular method for CRC screening overall. However, among each country, this test was most popular in only Japan (76.9%) and Indonesia. In other countries, sigmoidoscopy every 5 years and total colonoscopy every 10 years were the most popular methods. Conclusion: There are similarities and differences in the screening of GC and CRC among East Asian countries. © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.