The impact of childhood parental quality on mental health outcomes in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Parental bonding is cited as a determinant of mental health outcomes in childhood, adolescence and early-mid adulthood. Examination of the long-term impact for older adults is limited. We therefore examine the long-term risk of perceived poor parental bonding on mental health across the lifespan and into early-old age. METHODS: Participants (N = 1255) were aged 60-64 years of age and drawn from the Australian Life Histories and Health study. Quality of parental bonding was assessed with the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Self-reported history of doctors' mental health diagnoses and current treatment for each participant was recorded. Current depression was assessed with the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression-8 (CESD-8). Due to known gender differences in mental health rates across the lifespan, analyses were stratified by sex. RESULTS: A bi-factor analysis of the PBI in a structural equation framework indicated perceived Poor Parental Quality as a risk for both ever and current depression for both sexes. For males, Over-Protective Fathers were a risk for ever and current depression, whilst overall Poor Parental Quality was a risk for reporting current depression treatment. Whilst a number of the risks associated with current depression and treatment were attenuated when controlling for current mood, parental quality remained a significant risk for having reported a lifetime diagnosis for depression and anxiety for men. CONCLUSION: Our results extend the existing literature base and demonstrate that mental health risk attributed to poor perceived parental quality continues across the life-course and into early-old age.

BMI and healthy life expectancy in old and very old women.

There is conflicting evidence for the effect of BMI on mortality at older ages, and little information on its effect on healthy life expectancy (HLE). Longitudinal data were from the 1921-1926 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (n 11 119), over 18 years of follow-up. Self-rated health status was measured at each survey, and BMI was measured at baseline. Multi-state models were fitted to estimate the effect of BMI on total life expectancy (TLE) and HLE. Compared with women of normal weight, overweight women at the age of 75 years had similar TLE but fewer years healthy (-0·79; 95 % CI -1·21, -0·37) and more years unhealthy (0·99; 95 % CI 0·56, 1·42). Obese women at the age of 75 years lived fewer years in total than normal-weight women (-1·09; 95 % CI -1·77, -0·41), and had more unhealthy years (1·46; 95 % CI 0·97, 1·95 years). Underweight women had the lowest TLE and the fewest years of healthy life. Women should aim to enter old age at a normal weight and in good health, as the slight benefit on mortality of being overweight is offset by spending fewer years healthy. All outcomes were better for those who began in good health. The relationship between weight and HLE has important implications for nutrition for older people, particularly maintenance of lean body mass and prevention of obesity. The benefit of weight loss in obese older women remains unclear, but we support the recommendation that weight-loss advice be individualised, as any benefits may not outweigh the risks in healthy obese older adults.

Vegetable-rich food pattern is related to obesity in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between a vegetable-rich food pattern and obesity among Chinese adults. DESIGN: A food pattern rich in vegetables is associated with lower risk of obesity and non-communicable chronic disease in Western countries. A similar food pattern is found in the Chinese population but the cooking method is different. A cross-sectional household survey of 2849 men and women aged 20 years and over was undertaken in 2002 in Jiangsu Province (response rate, 89.0%). Food intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis was used to identify food patterns. Nutrient intake was measured by food weighing plus consecutive individual 3-day food records. Height, weight and waist circumference were measured. RESULTS: The prevalence of general obesity (BMI > or =28 kg m(-2)) was 8.0% in men and 12.7% in women, central obesity was 19.5% (> or =90 cm) and 38.2% (> or =80 cm), respectively. A four-factor solution explained 28.5% of the total variance in food frequency intake. The vegetable-rich food pattern (whole grains, fruits and vegetables) was positively associated with vegetable oil and energy intake. Prevalence of obesity/central obesity increased across the quartiles of vegetable-rich food pattern. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and four distinct food patterns, the vegetable-rich pattern was independently associated with obesity. Compared with the lowest quartile of vegetable-rich pattern, the highest quartile had higher risk of general obesity (men, prevalence ratio (PR): 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-3.14; women, PR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.45-3.49). CONCLUSION: The vegetable-rich food pattern was associated with higher risk of obesity/central obesity in Chinese adults in both genders. This association can be linked to the high intake of energy due to generous use of oil for stir-frying the vegetables.

Prevalence of and factors associated with frailty and disability in older adults from China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa.

BACKGROUND: The severe burden imposed by frailty and disability in old age is a major challenge for healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries alike. The current study aimed to provide estimates of the prevalence of frailty and disability in older adult populations and to examine their relationship with socioeconomic factors in six countries. METHODS: Focusing on adults aged 50+ years, a frailty index was constructed as the proportion of deficits in 40 variables, and disability was assessed using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), as part of the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa. RESULTS: This study included a total of 34,123 respondents. China had the lowest percentages of older adults with frailty (13.1%) and with disability (69.6%), whereas India had the highest percentages (55.5% and 93.3%, respectively). Both frailty and disability increased with age for all countries, and were more frequent in women, although the sex gap varied across countries. Lower levels of both frailty and disability were observed at higher levels of education and wealth. Both education and income were protective factors for frailty and disability in China, India and Russia, whereas only income was protective in Mexico, and only education in South Africa. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related frailty and disability are increasing concerns for older adult populations in low- and middle-income countries. The results indicate that lower levels of frailty and disability can be achieved for older people, and the study highlights the need for targeted preventive approaches and support programs.

Trends in health service use for women in Australia with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the health, health service use and use of recommended guidelines for care for women in Australia with diabetes. METHODS: Analysis of survey data 1996-99 from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, linked with Medicare data for 1997-2001. Participants were 12,338 mid-age women aged 45-50 years in 1996 (1.9% with diabetes) and 10,421 older women aged 70-75 years at Survey 1 in 1996 (8.1% with diabetes). The outcome measures were number of general practice and specialist visits and use of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbAlc), lipids and microalbuminuria tests. RESULTS: Women with diabetes at Survey 1, and those diagnosed by Survey 2, were more likely to have hypertension, heart disease and eyesight problems, have high rates of polypharmacy (four or more medications: mid age 32%, older 64%) and more consultations with general practitioners and specialists than women without diabetes. During 1997-2001, there was a trend for a greater percentage of women with diabetes to have an HbA1c test at least annually (mid age 44%-52%, older age 46%-58%). Rates of testing microalbuminuria and lipids also increased but were far from conforming to guidelines. Having more frequent consultations with a general practitioner was significantly associated with having all three recommended tests. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increasing use of services by women with diabetes, in part due to an increase in compliance with guidelines for the management of diabetes. IMPLICATIONS: Linked health and administrative data provide a means to monitor health service utilisation, adherence to principles for best practice care and issues of equity in care.

Assessing socioeconomic inequalities of hypertension among women in Indonesia's major cities.

Although hypertension has been recognized as one of the major public health problems, few studies address economic inequality of hypertension among urban women in developing countries. To assess this issue, we analysed data for 1400 women from four of Indonesia's major cities: Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan and Bandung. Women were aged ⩾15 years (mean age 35.4 years), and were participants in the 2007/2008 Indonesia Family Life Survey. The prevalence of hypertension measured by digital sphygmomanometer among this population was 31%. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, socioeconomic disadvantage (based on household assets and characteristics) as well as age, body mass index and economic conditions were significantly associated with hypertension (P<0.05). Applying the Fairlie decomposition model, results showed that 14% of the inequality between less and more economically advantaged groups could be accounted for by the distribution of socioeconomic characteristics. Education was the strongest contributor to inequality, with lower education levels increasing the predicted probability of hypertension among less economically advantaged groups. This work highlights the importance of socioeconomic inequality in the development of hypertension, and particularly the effects of education level.

Asthma presentations to emergency departments in western Sydney during the January 1994 Bushfires.

BACKGROUND: From 5 to 12 January 1994, the state of New South Wales suffered from the worst bushfires seen this century. High levels of particulate air pollution were recorded in western Sydney from 7 to 14 January 1994, with nephelometry readings reaching 10.24 beta scat (10(-4)/m) and particulate matter < 10 mu readings peaking at 250.00 micrograms/m3. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was an increase in the proportion of asthma presentations to emergency departments (ED) in western Sydney as a result of the bushfire-generated particulate air pollution. METHOD: We retrospectively analysed the emergency room attendance books for asthma presentations from seven public hospitals serving the Western Sydney and Wentworth Health Areas over two 6-7 week periods, 17 December 1992 to 31 January 1993, and 17 December 1993 to 31 January 1994. Air pollution and meteorological data were obtained from local monitoring stations. RESULTS: The difference in the proportion of all ED presentations that were due to asthma during the week of the bushfire-generated air pollution, compared with the same week 12 months before, after adjusting for baseline changes over the 12-month period, was 0.0067 (95% CI: -0.0007, 0.0141). The maximum daily nephelometry reading was not a significant predictor of the daily number of asthma presentations to ED in any of the Poisson regression models. CONCLUSIONS: The bushfire-generated particulate air pollution in January 1994 did not result in an increase in asthma presentations to ED in western Sydney.

Delay in consulting a medical practitioner about rectal bleeding.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aims were to estimate the incidence of rectal bleeding in the community, and to determine the proportion of individuals who delay or fail to seek medical advice after a first episode of rectal bleeding. DESIGN: The data were collected as part of a large scale general population survey of the health practices and attitudes of individuals in a randomly selected sample of 2121 households. SETTING: The survey was conducted in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas of New South Wales, Australia, during 1987-88. PARTICIPANTS: Information about rectal bleeding was collected from 1213 individuals aged 40 years and over. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 1213 people aged 40 years and over, 239 (20%) reported noticing rectal bleeding at some time in their life. However, since an estimated 4.5% had noticed rectal bleeding for the first time in the past year the true lifetime incidence of rectal bleeding is likely to be much higher. Of the 77 individuals who had noticed a first occurrence of rectal bleeding more than three months but less than five years prior to the interview, 23 (30%) had either not sought medical advice or had only done so after a period of delay. The most commonly reported reason for delay or failure to consult was thinking that the bleeding was not serious and would clear up by itself. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that prompt investigation of rectal bleeding is not occurring in a relatively large proportion of cases. However, in the absence of firm evidence that early detection improves prognosis, and considering the costs of screening, it would be premature to initiate programmes which encourage people to seek care promptly for this symptom.

Determinants of general practitioner use among women in Australia.

This study investigates the use of general practitioner services by women in Australia. Although there is a universal health insurance system (Medicare) in Australia, there are variations in access to services and out of pocket costs for services. Survey data from 2350 mid-age (45-50 years) and 2102 older (70-75 years) women participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were linked with Medicare data to provide a range of individual and contextual variables hypothesised to explain general practitioner use. Structural equation modelling showed that physical health was the most powerful explanatory factor of general practitioner use. However, after adjusting for self-reported health, out of pocket cost per consultation was inversely associated with use of services. The out of pocket cost was generally lower for women with low socioeconomic status but cost was also directly related to geographical remoteness. Women living in more remote areas had higher out of pocket costs and poorer access to services. Women who reported better access to care were more likely to be satisfied with their most recent general practice consultation and less likely to be sceptical of the value of medical care. These results show the need for health policies that improve the equitable use of general practitioner services in Australia.

A survey of screening compliance among first degree relatives of people with colon cancer in New South Wales.

OBJECTIVE: To survey screening practices, knowledge, and attitudes towards screening among first degree relatives of people with colon cancer. SETTING: A random sample of people with colon cancer listed on the New South Wales (NSW) Cancer Registry were mailed a questionnaire to be passed on to an appropriate first degree relative. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty five first degree relatives completed a self administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Although there were high levels of awareness about colorectal cancer, and attitudes towards colorectal cancer were generally positive, screening rates were low, and only three relatives had been screened in accordance with current Australian recommendations. Factors associated with previous participation in any type of screening test (usually once) included receiving a medical recommendation to screen, having more than one relative with colorectal cancer, being a sibling of the relative with colon cancer, the relative with cancer being female, and perceiving screening as messy, but not painful. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to enhance screening awareness and participation among relatives need to be considered. This study provides some insight into factors to be considered in developing awareness programmes. Further research is required to explore these factors, and to identify ways to overcome barriers.

A collaborative approach to cervical cancer screening.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this project was to evaluate a collaborative nurse and general practitioner approach to improve screening for cervical cancer. DESIGN: Multiple group time series design. SETTING: Six postal areas in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia, chosen as intervention sites because of very low Pap test rates compared with the rest of NSW (fewer than 50% of women screened). Six regions of similar size and with similar baseline screening levels were selected as comparison sites. SUBJECTS: All women selected in the resident postal areas. INTERVENTIONS: Women's health nurses worked in collaboration with general practitioners within the communities selected from within the Hunter area to promote and provide screening for cervical cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Qualitative information on initial expectations and impressions of the collaborative processes were collected at the start of the project period. Process data on client characteristics and Pap test results were obtained from minimum data collections; client satisfaction was assessed from client surveys. Outcome data on the increase in the number of women in each community who were screened for cervical cancer were obtained from Health Insurance Commission claims for screening Pap tests (and from nurses' records where Pap tests were examined under block funding arrangements). RESULTS: This project showed that nurses and general practitioners can collaborate to provide appropriate and highly acceptable cervical cancer screening services for women. Many of the women screened by the nurses were in the high risk age range for cervical cancer (40 years and older) and had only basic education levels, thus representing women who are most likely to have poor screening rates. Further, 33.1% of the women screened had not had a Pap test in the past four years or had never been screened. The number of women having a Pap test during the first six months of the project, compared with the number expected from preintervention patterns, was significantly greater in four intervention areas (P < 0.01). No corresponding increase was seen in comparison areas with similar screening rates at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: There is great potential for nurses to work in collaboration with general practitioners to improve the availability and coverage of community cervical cancer screening programmes.

What are women told about Pap smears that lack endocervical cells?

BACKGROUND: Debate exists about the definition of what constitutes an adequate Pap smear and about the recommended rescreening interval for Pap smears lacking an endocervical component. This study aimed at determining whether women are currently informed about the endocervical status of their Pap smears and what rescreening recommendations are made to women whose smears lack endocervical cells. METHOD: Consecutive Pap smears lacking an endocervical component were identified from pathology records. After obtaining consent from the referring doctor, 165 women were interviewed by telephone. RESULTS: Only 110 (67%) of 165 women received active notification of their Pap test result and only six (4%) were aware that their smear lacked endocervical cells. Thirteen (8%) had been advised to have a repeat smear within three months. Nearly half the women reported that they would like more information about their result. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that current Pap smear notification patterns for women in New South Wales could be improved. One third are not actively informed at all about their results, and few are given detailed information about their Pap test results. Methods of enhancing the level of information women are given about their medical and screening tests need to be improved.

Effectiveness of three community based strategies to promote screening for cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of three potential methods for increasing Pap smear use: television media, television media combined with letter based recruitment, and television media combined with general practitioner based (GP based) recruitment. SETTING: A trial of each intervention was carried out in three postal regions in New South Wales, Australia-a rural locality (containing about 1000 women), a country town (about 3000 women), and a major rural centre (about 10,000 women). Three control regions were selected to be demographically similar to the corresponding intervention regions. METHODS: Outcome data on regional Pap smear rates were obtained from government health insurance claims for cervical screening, and from pathology service records. Expected Pap smear rates for the three months after the intervention were predicted from 45 pre-intervention months and were compared with observed rates for this period. RESULTS: Television media alone was associated with a significant increase in attendances for screening in one of the three regions where a trial was carried out: 13.3% in the rural centre. The media/letter based campaign was associated with a significant increase in attendances in two out of three regions: 52.7% in the rural locality, 43.2% in the rural centre. The media/GP based campaign was associated with significant increases in attendances in all three regions: 50.2% in the rural locality, 80.8% in the country town, 15.7% in the rural centre. All three interventions were associated with significant increases in the number of women attending for cervical screening above those observed in the control regions. Furthermore, these increases were not restricted to women at low risk. They were also found for older women (aged 50-69 years) and women who had not had a Pap smear within the past three years.

Effects of parenteral nutrition support and chemotherapy on the phasic composition of tumor cells in gastrointestinal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Some clinical studies report the effects of parenteral nutrition in malnourished cancer patients, but few discuss the tumor response to parenteral nutrition plus chemotherapy. If used in combination, the antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents may compensate for the tumor stimulation of parenteral nutrition. METHODS: Ninety-two patients with operable gastrointestinal cancer and malnutrition were randomly assigned to four interventions that were administered for 7 days preoperatively: parenteral nutrition alone, parenteral nutrition plus chemotherapy, chemotherapy alone, or no treatment (control). The preintervention and postintervention DNA content, DNA index, percentage of cells in S phase, and tumor cell sensitivity to chemotherapy were measured using image cytometry. RESULTS: Parenteral nutrition resulted in a significant proliferation of tumor cells and a significant increase in the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy; these effects were not seen in tumors of patients receiving parenteral nutrition plus chemotherapy. There was, however, a nonsignificant increase in tumor cell proliferation and sensitivity to chemotherapy in the tumors of subjects receiving combined therapy compared with those of subjects who received chemotherapy alone. The postintervention nutritional status of both the parenteral nutrition group and the parenteral nutrition plus chemotherapy group were significantly better than that of the control group and the chemotherapy group. The short-term, postoperative clinical outcomes in the chemotherapy group were significantly worse than those in the other three groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that combining chemotherapy and nutrition support preoperatively for malnourished patients with gastrointestinal cancer improves short-term nutritional status without increasing the proliferation of tumor cells and prevents the postoperative complications that occur when such patients are given chemotherapy without nutrition support. The results also suggest--but do not prove--that parenteral nutrition may increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy in malnourished patients.

A thorough going over: evidence for health assessments for older persons.

OBJECTIVE: To review published randomised controlled trials of health assessments for older people; consider the effects of assessments in maintaining health and quality of life for older people; and identify those factors associated with more successful health assessment programs. METHODS: A systematic literature search and methodological review of published studies of health assessments for people aged 65 years and over, living in the community. RESULTS: Twenty-one trials were identified. They were widely heterogeneous in terms of methodological quality, assessment content and outcome variables. While the studies' results are inconsistent, the majority of the more methodologically sound studies report improvements in health. The studies reporting positive health outcomes were not specifically targeted to particular groups at high need, but were applied to all people in the source population who had reached a set age, usually 75 plus. In the majority of studies reviewed, the assessments were conducted by non-medical personnel (nurse, lay interviewer/volunteer or office staff). CONCLUSIONS: Health assessments have been associated with improved health outcomes for older people. An evidence base for specific components to be included in the assessments is yet to be derived. IMPLICATIONS: In November 1999, new Medicare items to provide for health assessments for persons in Australia aged 75 years and over were introduced. The acceptability, adoption and effectiveness of these items needs careful monitoring.

Mass mailing campaigns to promote screening for cervical cancer: do they work, and do they continue to work?

Campaigns involving sending personally addressed letters to encourage women to have Pap smears increase Pap smear rates. The aim of this study was to assess whether this effect is maintained when campaigns are repeated regularly. In October 1992, a letter reminding women of the importance of screening was mailed to all women in three New South Wales postcode regions where a similar letter had been sent three years previously. The response was compared to the response in three regions receiving no earlier letter. The number of women attending for cervical screening during the three months after distribution of the letters was assessed from Health Insurance Commission claims for cervical cytology. These attendances were compared with expected attendances based on the attendance patterns over 28 pre-intervention quarters. Significant postintervention increases in attendance were observed in all three regions receiving an initial letter. However, in one region, the increase in attendances, around 1 per cent of eligible women, was not significantly greater than the increase in the control region (z = 0.15, P = 0.88). The second letter campaign had no measurable effect on attendances. No significant increase in screenings was observed in two of the towns. A significant increase was observed in one region, but this was not significantly greater than the increase in the control region (z = -0.05, P = 0.96). These results suggest that repeated direct-mail campaigns to promote screening for cervical cancer may be of no benefit. A one-off campaign may result in an increase in screenings in the short term.

Health services research using linked records: who consents and what is the gain?

OBJECTIVE: To assess consent to record linkage, describe the characteristics of consenters and compare self-report versus Medicare records of general practitioner use. METHOD: Almost 40,000 women in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were sent a request by mail for permission to link their Medicare records and survey data. RESULTS: 19,700 women consented: 37% of young (18-23 years), 59% of mid-age (45-50 years) and 53% of older women (70-75 years). Consenters tended to have higher levels of education and, among the older cohort, were in better health than non-consenters. Women tended to under-report the number of visits to general practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: Record linkage of survey and Medicare data on a large scale is feasible. The linked data provide information on health and socio-economic status which are valuable for understanding health service utilisation. IMPLICATIONS: Linked records provide a powerful tool for health care research, particularly in longitudinal studies.

Access and equity in the provision of general practitioner services for women in Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess geographical equity in the availability, accessibility and out-of-pocket costs of general practitioner (GP) services for women in Australia. METHOD: Data on general practice consultations during 1995 and 1996 for women aged 18-23 years (n = 5,260), 45-50 years (n = 7,898) and 70-75 years (n = 6,542) in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were obtained from the Health Insurance Commission. A sub-study of 4,577 participants provided data on access to health services. RESULTS: Older women were more likely to have no out-of-pocket costs for their GP consultations, but in all age groups, the proportion was lower in rural areas than in urban areas (older age: 60% rural areas, 76% capital cities; mid-age: 24% rural areas, 40% capital cities; young age: 35% rural areas, 52% capital cities). Among mid-aged women, the median out-of-pocket cost per consultation ranged from $2.11 in capital cities to $6.48 in remote areas. Women living in rural and remote areas gave lower ratings for the availability, accessibility and affordability of health services than women living in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown a striking gradient in financial and nonfinancial barriers to health care associated with area of residence. IMPLICATIONS: The geographical imbalance in the supply and distribution of GP services in Australia has long been recognised but inequities in the affordability of services must also be addressed. Longitudinal survey data and Health Insurance Commission data provide a means to evaluate policies designed to improve access to health services in rural and remote areas.

A general practice-based recruitment strategy for colorectal cancer screening.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a screening recruitment strategy for first degree relatives of people with colorectal cancer is effective in enabling eligible relatives to request screening from their general practitioner (GP) and to assess acceptability to GPs and patients. METHODS: Thirty GPs, from 26 practices, and 303 of their patients aged over 50 who were first degree relatives of a person with colorectal cancer, participated in a randomised controlled trial of a GP-based recruitment strategy, in the Newcastle Area of New South Wales, Australia. RESULTS: The proportion of relatives requesting screening was statistically significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (18% compared to 4%, respectively; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Interest in the study by GPs was low, however for GPs who were involved, the recruitment strategy did prompt first degree relatives to discuss screening. The strategy may be even more effective when combined with other interventions such as a media campaign. The results may be generalizable to feasibility studies of general population screening for colorectal cancer in Australia. IMPLICATIONS: The results of this work are potentially informative to public health practice in Australia given the ensuing pilot programs of colorectal cancer screening.

Colorectal cancer screening: discussions with first degree relatives.

Screening by faecal occult blood test and colonoscopy is recommended for first degree relatives of people with colorectal cancer. While it is known that screening participation among relatives is low, relatives' beliefs and attitudes towards screening have not been explored at an in-depth level. In this study, four focus group discussions with first degree relatives of people with colorectal cancer were held. Discussions were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and the data were independently coded and analysed by the authors. Three main themes were identified: risk, understanding, and screening. Perceived risk was determined by family history, age and gender. Of concern, there was limited understanding of the asymptomatic nature of screening with most relatives initially 'screened' after consulting a doctor with colorectal symptoms. These findings need to be considered in screening programs.