Investigators At Massachusetts General Hospital Have Published New Data On Colon Cancer

NewsRx.com

October 15, 2009

"Although evidence suggests that aspirin and celecoxib may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), these drugs can also cause harmful side effects. The aim of this study was to characterize patient preferences for celecoxib and aspirin," scientists in the United States report (see also Colon Cancer).

"completed a computer-based patient decision-making questionnaire that included an educational component outlining the benefits and harms of celecoxib and aspirin. Under the base conditions 7.4% would take celecoxib and 43.6% would take aspirin; males were more willing than females to take aspirin. identified the increased risk of myocardial infarction and gastrointestinal events as the primary reasons for their unwillingness to take celecoxib and aspirin, respectively. A majority of subjects would not take either drug, after considering their benefits and harms, although participants were almost six times more likely to take aspirin than celecoxib," wrote C. Hur and colleagues, Massachusetts General Hospital.

The researchers concluded: "These data serve to inform physicians and researchers regarding the variability and factors that affect patient preferences for CRC chemoprevention."

Hur and colleagues published their study in Digestive Diseases and Sciences (Patient Preferences for the Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 2009;54(10):2207-2214).

For more information, contact C. Hur, Massachusetts General Hospital, Institute Technology Assessment, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences is: Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands.

Keywords: United States, Boston, Aspirin, Celecoxib, Colon Cancer, Colon Carcinoma, Colorectal, Digestive Diseases, Drugs, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Therapy, Treatment, Massachusetts General Hospital.

This article was prepared by Hospital Law Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Hospital Law Weekly via NewsRx.com.

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