Colorectal cancer screening and African Americans: findings from a qualitative study.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has been found to be an effective tool for the control and prevention of this type of cancer, yet it is underutilized by African Americans. Consequently, African Americans with CRC are diagnosed at late stages and suffer disproportionately higher mortality rates for CRC.

Methods: To understand factors that influence the decision to participate in CRC screening, in-depth personal interviews were conducted with 36 African Americans in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.