International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802022015030714871487EN20150307<p><strong>Background:</strong> Colonoscopy is the preferred screening method for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to identify factors motivating a beneficial health behavior, that is, the decision to complete a colonoscopy.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> We surveyed 91 primarily urban minority health care workers who were ineligible for a large randomized controlled trial due to self-reported asymptomatic colonoscopy screening. Participants were asked an open-ended question about what made them get screened. Responses were classified as external or internal motivations.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The most commonly reported external motivation was a primary care physician's recommendation (n = 60, 65.9%). Other external motivations were familiarity with CRC or polyps through family or work (n = 16, 17.6%) and pressure from relatives or friends (n = 8, 8.8%). Seventeen respondents were deemed self-motivated; these individuals were more likely have income over $50K/year (P &lt; 0.05) and to be US born (P = 0.05); they were more likely to mention being age-appropriate for screening (P &lt; 0.05); knew more people who had colonoscopies (P &lt; 0.001); they were less likely to believe that most of the age-appropriate population in New York City has been screened (P &lt; 0.01) and less likely to be deterred from colonoscopy by work schedule (P &lt; 0.001) or by having to take a powerful laxative (P &lt; 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> A primary care physician's recommendation may be the most prevalent motivating factor in patients' decisions to receive a colonoscopy, but a subgroup seeks CRC screening on their own. Analysis of the motivations of individuals who have sought colonoscopy screening may offer useful insights into motivating those who have not.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Colon cancer, colonoscopy, screening</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1487http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1487/1768