IPUMS NHIS: descr: COLTDR1YR

IPUMS NHIS

NHIS
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NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY

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COLTDR1YR

Doctor recommended testing for colon or rectal problems, past 12 months

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Description

COLTDR1YR indicates whether, in the past 12 months, a physician or other health professional recommended testing to look for problems in the respondent's colon or rectum. COLTDR1YR is asked of sample adults aged 40 years and older who meet the following conditions. They:

never had a colonoscopy or had a colonoscopy over 10 years ago, or don't know or refused when they had a colonoscopy (COLLESTY),

never had a sigmoidoscopy or had a sigmoidoscopy over 5 years ago, or don't know or refused when they had a sigmoidoscopy (SIGLESTY), or

had a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy but don't know which over 5 years ago (COLSIGWHEN), and

never had a CT colonography or had a CT colonography over 5 years ago, or don't know or refused when they had a CT colonography (CTCOLLESTY), and

never had a FIT test or had a FIT test over one year ago, or don't know or refused when they had a FIT test (BSTHGYRR), and

never had a Cologuard test or had a Cologuard test more than 3 years ago, or don't know or refused when they had a Cologuard test (COLGEV).

Prior to 2019, COLTDR1YR was asked of sample adults aged 40 years or older who had not had a colonoscopy in the past 10 years, sigmoidoscopy in the past 5 years, CT colonography in the past 5 years, or home blood stool test in the last year.

If respondents indicate that a health professional recommended additional testing for problems in their colon or rectum, the following variables report which tests had been recommended:

COLCANBST: Doctor recommended blood stool test to check for colon cancer

COLCANCOLG: Doctor recommended Cologuard/FIT DNA test to check for colon cancer

COLCANCOLCT: Doctor recommended CT colonoscopy to check for colon cancer

COLCANSIG: Doctor recommended sigmoidoscopy to check for colon cancer

COLCANCOL: Doctor recommended colonoscopy to check for colon cancer

COLCANOTH: Doctor recommended other test to check for colon cancer

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According to the 2010 and forward Field Representative's Manual, this and related questions were asked:

...to determine the practices and knowledge of the public with regard to cancer screening practices. This includes practices that are known to reduce mortality from cancer and some for which evidence of effectiveness is not available. The 2010 Cancer Screening Supplement will be the first-time questions about having a breast MRI, virtual colonoscopy, and lung x-ray are in the NHIS.

The Manual in 2010 and forward further provided the following definition for cancer:

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissue and can spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.

The Manual in 2010 and forward also provided the following statement regarding how the data from the Cancer Screening questions would be used:

. . . It also allows for comparisons among subgroups of the population to examine factors that may influence . . . cancer screening exam practices. Together, this information will be useful in developing public health and health services programs to increase . . . the use of regular and effective screening.

Comparability

Comparability may be affected by changes to the universe over time and the redesign of the 2019 questionnaire. The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.

Universe

2010: Sample adults age 40+ who have not had a colonoscopy in the past 10 years, Sigmoidoscopy in the past 5 years, CT colonography in the past 5 years, or home blood stool test in the last year.
2013: Sample adults age 40+.
2015; 2018: Sample adults age 40+ who have not had a colonoscopy in the past 10 years, Sigmoidoscopy in the past 5 years, CT colonography in the past 5 years, or home blood stool/FIT test in the last year.
2019; 2021; 2023: Sample adults age 40+ who never had a colonoscopy or had a colonoscopy over 10 years ago, or don't know or refused when they had a colonoscopy (COLLESTY), and never had a sigmoidoscopy or had a sigmoidoscopy over 5 years ago (SIGLESTY), or don't know or refused when they had a sigmoidoscopy, or had a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy but don't know which over 5 years ago (COLSIGWHEN), and never had a CT colonography or had a CT colonography over 5 years ago, or don't know or refused when they had a CT colonography (CTCOLLESTY), and never had a FIT test or had a FIT test over one year ago, or don't know or refused when they had a FIT test (BSTHGYRR), and never had a Cologuard test or had a Cologuard test more than 3 years ago, or don't know or refused when they had a Cologuard test.

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