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Disgust may play role in avoidance of colorectal cancer screening, therapy
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The emotion of disgust appears to play a part in promoting psychological and behavioral avoidance of colorectal cancer screening and treatment, according to recent study results.
In a systematic literature review of databases for Medline, Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, researchers searched for cancer-related terms combined with the word “disgust” and other synonyms. Investigators had broadened their original search beyond colorectal cancer (CRC) for lack of results. Limited search yields also resulted in contacting lead study authors based on citation lists.
Researchers identified nine studies that focused on disgust and cancer screening behaviors. Six other studies applied to disgust and cancer therapy. Researchers found two central themes in the studies relating to disgust and screening: disgust or disgust sensitivities “appear likely to be promoting aversion to and avoidance of CRC screening,” and multiple known “elicitors of disgust are widely apparent in CRC contexts.” They cited fecal occult blood tests, where patients must collect feces samples for analysis, and rectal examinations involving instrument penetrations as screenings that elicited responses including “pretty disgusting,” “repugnant,” and “messy.”
Researchers found no recurrent themes among the studies on cancer treatment and disgust. Findings ranged from disgust for loss of hair as a result of chemotherapy to feeling “sufficiently repugnant” and declining colostomy because of adenocarcinoma of the large intestine.
“Disgust likely represents a key emotional substrate for avoidance among CRC patients, caregivers, and health professionals,” the researchers concluded. “Further research is required to identify disgust’s elicitors and effects in CRC contexts, informing interventions that target early identification of persons at risk of maladaptive outcomes.”
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