Original Research
Exploring barriers and promoters of CRC screening use among agricultural operators: a pilot study of an application of concept mapping
AUTHORS
Cheryl Beseler 1 PhD, Associate Professor 
Jungyoon Kim2 PhD, Assistant Professor
Roma Subramanian 3 PhD, Associate Professor
Susan Harris 4 MLS, Educator -Rural Health, Wellness and Safety
Karen Funkenbusch 5 MA, Extension Instructor and State, Health and Safety Specialist
Aaron M Yoder 6 PhD, Associate Professor
Tamara Robinson 7 MS, Program Director
Jason M Foster 8 MD, Professor
Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway9 PhD, Professor *
AFFILIATIONS
1, 6 Department of Environmental, Agricultural, Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA
2 Department of Health Services Research & Administration, UNMC College of Public Health, Omaha, NE, USA
3 Fine Arts and Media, College of Communication, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE
4 University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension, Lincoln, NE, USA
5 Occupational Therapy Program, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
7 Nebraska Cancer Coalition, Lincoln, NE, USA
8 Department of Surgery, UNMC College of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA
9 Department of Epidemiology, UNMC College of Public Health, Omaha, NE, USA
ACCEPTED: 14 August 2023
early abstract:
Introduction: The purpose of the study was to identify barriers and facilitators of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening use among agricultural operators in Nebraska.
Methods: The ‘Concept Mapping’ approach was used to engage participants and enhance the generation of ideas and opinions regarding CRC screening. Two focus groups (7 women and 7 men) were conducted.
Results: Among women, the cost domain was most agreed upon as important, followed by experiencing symptoms, awareness, and family. Among men, the important concepts related to CRC screening were family and friend support, feeling like too young to get CRC, family or personal history of CRC, and lack of awareness of the need to be screened. Some gender differences regarding barriers were observed, such as women were more concerned about the cost of screening while men were far more concerned about the embarrassment associated with CRC screening.
Conclusion: These findings will be crucial to developing educational materials to increase knowledge of risk factors for CRC and CRC screening in the agricultural population.
Keywords: agricultural, colorectal cancer, focus group, screening.