Factors associated with compliance of blood stool test and use of colonoscopy in underserved communities of North Miami-Dade County, Florida

Introduction. Only two-thirds of U.S. adults are compliant with screening for colorectal cancer. This study identified factors of blood stool test (BST) compliance and colonoscopy use among randomly selected households in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Methods. This study used cross-sectional data collected 10/2009–04/2010. Analyses were restricted to 1,118 single-family homes containing a minimum of one member ≥ 50 years. Results. Half of households were compliant with BST (55%) or completed colonoscopy (55%). Factors associated with BST compliance included retirement (adjusted odds ratio[AOR]=1.57**), being uninsured (AOR=0.64**), diagnosed morbidities (AOR=1.68**), fruit/vegetable consumption (AOR=1.60**), and using alternative medicines (AOR=1.36*). Factors associated with colonoscopy included Hispanic ethnicity (AOR=0.56**), lower education (AOR=0.66*), being single (AOR=0.65*), retirement (AOR=2.01***), being uninsured (AOR=0.61**), diagnosed morbidities (AOR=2.13***), former smoking (AOR=1.94**), and fruit/vegetable consumption (AOR=1.75***)(*p<.05;**p<.01;***p<.001). Conclusion. This is the first study of factors of BST and colonoscopy in Miami-Dade County. These findings provide a basis for community-based interventions aimed at increasing screening within this population.