Abstract
BACKGROUND: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a rising issue worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates. It is the third most common cause of death globally. Early diagnosis can lead to prevention and treatment, making it crucial for healthcare professionals to have proper knowledge about CRC screening. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the level of awareness, identify knowledge gaps, and update the knowledge of healthcare workers. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from May to October 2023, in multiple tertiary care hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Responses were collected manually through a designed proforma of questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 164 participants (137 male and 27 female) took part in our study. Among the participants, 92.1% (n = 151) were aware that colonoscopy is used for CRC screening. Other screening methods known to them included a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) (65.9%, n = 108), flexible sigmoidoscopy (48.2%, n = 79), stool DNA test (31.1%, n = 51), and virtual colonoscopy (34.1%, n = 56). Only 6.1% (n = 10) routinely recommended CRC screening for all patients, 22.6% (n = 37) recommended it occasionally, and 71.3% (n = 117) rarely or never recommended it. Regarding factors influencing the recommendation of CRC screening, 83.5% (n = 137) cited family history of CRC as the major factor, followed by patient age (68.3%, n = 112), availability of screening facilities (46.3%, n = 76), patient's overall health status (37.2%, n = 61), and patient's preference (20.7%, n = 34). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that only a small proportion of healthcare personnel regularly recommend CRC screening. In addition, a small proportion are familiar with CRC screening guidelines, although most are well-informed about the various investigations used for screening.