Introduction:

colorectal cancer will become the most frequent neoplasm in the 21st century, it is a major health problem, and screening tests are performed as part of the process of determining the presence of cancer.

Objective:

to determine the level of knowledge concerning the diagnostic tests for the early detection of colorectal cancer at Hermanos Cruz academic Polyclinic from 2016 to 2017.

Methods:

an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted where 652 patients from 50 years old and older belonging to Hermanos Cruz academic

Polyclinic were included as a target group; 118 patients comprised the intentional sample. Theoretical and empirical methods were used through a survey designed to achieve the objectives of the research; statistical data were expressed in absolute and relative frequencies.

Results:

55 % of the sample belonged to the age group of 50 to 54 years, with 29 % of the female sex and 26 % of the male sex, prevailed the finished primary school level, 61.9 % recognize colonoscopy as an examination for the diagnosis of the disease, 61.7 % of women showed willingness to undergo diagnostic tests, 62 % of the male sex did not.

Conclusions:

carrying out diagnostic tests for the early detection of colorectal cancer is one of the most powerful weapons to prevent this disease, it is necessary to instruct the population in the knowledge of these tests so that without any fear of going to perform it, thus improving indicators of morbidity and mortality from this disease.

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