The colorectal cancer screening gap in Türkiye: A tripartite survey of barriers among patients and surgeons

Key Takeaways for GI Nurses

• Understanding screening barriers from both patient and provider perspectives is essential for developing targeted nursing interventions that address specific obstacles to colorectal cancer screening compliance
• Cross-cultural research findings can inform nursing practice by highlighting how healthcare system differences, cultural attitudes, and provider communication patterns impact screening participation rates
• The tripartite survey approach demonstrates the importance of gathering comprehensive stakeholder feedback when designing quality improvement initiatives for screening programs
• International screening gap studies provide valuable benchmarking data that can help GI nursing teams evaluate their own unit's performance and identify areas for improvement

Clinical Relevance

This research holds significant implications for GI nursing practice, particularly in understanding the multifaceted nature of screening barriers that impact patient care delivery. As frontline healthcare providers, endoscopy nurses play a crucial role in patient education, pre-procedure counseling, and addressing concerns that may prevent patients from completing recommended screenings. By examining barriers from both patient and surgeon perspectives, this study provides valuable insights into systemic issues that nursing professionals can help address through targeted interventions and improved communication strategies.

The findings from this Turkish healthcare system study can inform nursing practice in diverse clinical settings by highlighting how cultural, educational, and healthcare delivery factors influence screening participation. GI nurses working in multicultural environments or with diverse patient populations can apply these insights to develop more culturally sensitive screening protocols and educational materials. Additionally, understanding surgeon-identified barriers can help nursing staff better collaborate with physicians to streamline screening processes and address workflow inefficiencies that may contribute to reduced screening rates.

From a unit operations perspective, this research underscores the importance of systematic barrier assessment in quality improvement initiatives. Endoscopy units can benefit from implementing similar tripartite evaluation approaches to identify specific obstacles within their own patient populations and provider networks. This data-driven approach enables nursing leaders to develop evidence-based strategies for improving screening compliance, optimizing resource allocation, and enhancing overall program effectiveness.

Bottom Line

This study reinforces that successful colorectal cancer screening programs require a comprehensive understanding of barriers from multiple stakeholder perspectives, emphasizing the critical role that GI nurses play in bridging communication gaps between patients and providers while developing targeted interventions to overcome screening obstacles and improve compliance rates in their clinical practice.