More OB/GYNs, NPs need to be screening for colorectal cancer
Although about 95% of obstetricians/gynecologists and nurse practitioners (NPs) screen their female patients for breast and cervical cancer, only bout 75% screen for colorectal cancer (CRC), according to the findings of a recent study.
Although about 95% of obstetricians/gynecologists (ob/gyns) and nurse practitioners (NPs) screen their female patients for breast and cervical cancer, only about 75% screen for colorectal cancer (CRC), according to the findings of a recent study.
Researchers mailed a survey to 1,130 ob/gyns and NPs. Not quite one-third (29.7%) returned the completed survey. Of those, 54% came from ob/gyns, and 46% came from NPs.
The survey revealed that routine CRC screening was about 30% more common among ob/gyns than among NPs (87.2% vs 61.7%, respectively; p<.001). Slightly more than half of both types of providers identified the correct age at which to begin screening, but, overall, ob/gyns scored higher than NPs on questions regarding CRC screening.
Menees SB, Patel DA, Dalton V. Colorectal cancer screening practices among obstetrician/gynecologists and nurse practitioners. J Womens Health. 2009;18(8):1233-1238.
Racial disparities based on delivery hospital quality reported
March 24th 2025A new study found that Black and American Indian birthing individuals in the United States are more likely to deliver at lower-quality hospitals than White patients, highlighting systemic health care inequities.
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