Skip directly to searchSkip directly to the site navigationSkip directly to the page's main content

Union County Public Health Profile Report

Self-Reported Colorectal Cancer Screening: Estimated Percent (Age-adjusted), 2017-2020*

  • Union
    68.7
    95% Confidence Interval (63.4 - 73.5)
    State
    69.2
    U.S.NA
    NA=Data not available.
  • Union Compared to State

    gauge ranking
    Description of Gauge

    Description of the Gauge

    This graphic is based on the county data to the left. It compares the county value of this indicator to the state overall value.
    • Excellent = The county's value on this indicator is BETTER than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
    • Watch = The county's value is BETTER than state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
    • Improvement Needed = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
    • Reason for Concern = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.

    The county value is considered statistically significantly different from the state value if the state value is outside the range of the county's 95% confidence interval. If the county's data or 95% confidence interval information is not available, a blank gauge image will be displayed with the message, "missing information."
    NOTE: The labels used on the gauge graphic are meant to describe the county's status in plain language. The placement of the gauge needle is based solely on the statistical difference between the county and state values. When selecting priority health issues to work on, a county should take into account additional factors such as how much improvement could be made, the U.S. value, the statistical stability of the county number, the severity of the health condition, and whether the difference is clinically significant.

Why Is This Important?

The fecal occult blood test and sigmoidoscopy are important tools in the detection of various health conditions, especially cancer of the colon and rectum. Colorectal cancer is unfortunately relatively common, does not have symptoms in its early stages, and has a risk that increases with age. Regular colorectal cancer screening is one of the most effective means by which colorectal cancer can be prevented or found early, when treatment is easier. Such screening helps people stay healthy and protects lives. The majority of diagnoses of this type of cancer occur in people who are over the age of 50. As a result, most people are advised to begin receiving these screening tests at age 50. Screening for hidden blood in the stool, using the fecal occult blood test, results in the detection of colorectal cancer at relatively high rates. Additionally, widespread use of this non-invasive, annual test has been shown to decrease both incidence and mortality in randomized controlled trials. By contrast, sigmoidoscopy is a minimally invasive test which uses a tiny video camera to examine the structure of the rectum and the lower part of the colon to find any abnormal areas. A sigmoidoscopy is usually performed only once every 5 years, depending on one's personal risk for colorectal cancer, but is also proven to decrease colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. Although this is a more involved procedure, sigmoidoscopy does have an enhanced ability, when compared to the fecal occult blood test, to find both cancer and colorectal polyps. Polyps are small growths which can over time become cancer, if left in place. Any polyps that are discovered can immediately be extracted through the medical device used for a sigmoidoscopy to prevent possible progression to cancer or to better assess whether or not any cancer is currently present.

Risk and Resiliency Factors

Factors that are negatively associated with self-report of colorectal cancer screening according to current guidelines include having less than a '''high school education''', having an '''annual income''' of less than 139% of poverty level, and being '''non-Hispanic Asian'''. ([https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6093265/ Hall et al., 2018]) Note: [https://www-doh.state.nj.us/doh-shad/query/builder/njbrfs/ColScrPSTF/ColScrPSTFAA11_.html Custom data views] of the estimated prevalence of adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines among New Jersey adults by selected '''sociodemographic and other characteristics''' (including '''education''', '''income''', and '''race/ethnicity''') can be generated using the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey interactive query module.

How Are We Doing?

In 2020, approximately 72 percent of New Jersey adults aged 50-75 reported being current with colorectal cancer screening recommendations.

What Is Being Done?

A fecal occult blood test and sigmoidoscopy are recommended by the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan 2008-2012. The Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan 2008-2012 has been developed by the Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment in New Jersey which aims to reduce the incidence, illness, and death due to cancer among New Jersey residents.

Healthy People Objective C-16:

Increase the proportion of adults who receive a colorectal cancer screening based on the most recent guidelines
U.S. Target: 70.5 percent
State Target: 70.2 percent

Note

*2019 data is not included in the average estimated prevalence. No data is available for 2019. All prevalence estimates are age-adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Sources

Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/chs/njbrfs/]  

Measure Description for Self-Reported Colorectal Cancer Screening

Definition: Estimated percentage of New Jersey adults ages 50-75 years who are current with colorectal cancer screening recommendations. An individual is considered current if they have had a take-home fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or high-sensitivity fecal occult blood test (FOBT) within the past year, and/or a flexible sigmoidoscopy within the past 5 years with a take-home FIT/FOBT within the past 3 years, and/or a colonoscopy within the past ten years.
Numerator: Number of New Jersey adults aged 50-75 years who reported that they are current with colorectal cancer screening recommendations.
Denominator: The total number of survey respondents aged 50-75 excluding those who answered "don't know" or "refused" to the numerator question.

Indicator Profile Report

Percent of Adults Ages 50-75 who are Current with Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendations (exits this report)

Date Content Last Updated

10/27/2022
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 11:52:36 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

Content updated: no date