TY - JOUR
T1 - Cancer-Related Beliefs and Perceptions in Appalachia
T2 - Findings from 3 States
AU - Vanderpool, Robin C.
AU - Huang, Bin
AU - Deng, Yangyang
AU - Bear, Todd M.
AU - Chen, Quan
AU - Johnson, Meghan F.
AU - Paskett, Electra D.
AU - Robertson, Linda B.
AU - Young, Gregory S.
AU - Iachan, Ronaldo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 National Rural Health Association
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - Background: Appalachians experience increased rates of cancer incidence and mortality compared to non-Appalachians. Many factors may contribute to the elevated cancer burden, including lack of knowledge and negative beliefs about the disease. Methods: Three National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers with Appalachian counties in their respective population-based geographic service areas—Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania—surveyed their communities to better understand their health profiles, including 5 items assessing cancer beliefs. Weighted univariate and bivariate statistics were calculated for each of the 3 state's Appalachian population and for a combined Appalachian sample. Weighted multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with a cancer beliefs composite score. Data from the combined Appalachian sample were compared to NCI's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Results: Data from 1,891 Appalachian respondents were included in the analysis (Kentucky = 798, Ohio = 112, Pennsylvania = 981). Significant differences were observed across the 3 Appalachian populations related to income, education, marital status, rurality, perceptions of present income, and body mass index (BMI). Four of 5 cancer beliefs were significantly different across the 3 states. Education, BMI, perceptions of financial security, and Kentucky residence were significantly associated with a lower composite score of cancer beliefs. When comparing the combined Appalachian population to HINTS, 3 of 5 cancer belief measures were significantly different. Conclusions: Variations in cancer beliefs were observed across the 3 states’ Appalachian populations. Interventions should be tailored to specific communities to improve cancer knowledge and beliefs and, ultimately, prevention and screening behaviors.
AB - Background: Appalachians experience increased rates of cancer incidence and mortality compared to non-Appalachians. Many factors may contribute to the elevated cancer burden, including lack of knowledge and negative beliefs about the disease. Methods: Three National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers with Appalachian counties in their respective population-based geographic service areas—Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania—surveyed their communities to better understand their health profiles, including 5 items assessing cancer beliefs. Weighted univariate and bivariate statistics were calculated for each of the 3 state's Appalachian population and for a combined Appalachian sample. Weighted multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with a cancer beliefs composite score. Data from the combined Appalachian sample were compared to NCI's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Results: Data from 1,891 Appalachian respondents were included in the analysis (Kentucky = 798, Ohio = 112, Pennsylvania = 981). Significant differences were observed across the 3 Appalachian populations related to income, education, marital status, rurality, perceptions of present income, and body mass index (BMI). Four of 5 cancer beliefs were significantly different across the 3 states. Education, BMI, perceptions of financial security, and Kentucky residence were significantly associated with a lower composite score of cancer beliefs. When comparing the combined Appalachian population to HINTS, 3 of 5 cancer belief measures were significantly different. Conclusions: Variations in cancer beliefs were observed across the 3 states’ Appalachian populations. Interventions should be tailored to specific communities to improve cancer knowledge and beliefs and, ultimately, prevention and screening behaviors.
KW - Appalachia
KW - cancer beliefs
KW - fatalism
KW - rural
KW - survey research
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U2 - 10.1111/jrh.12359
DO - 10.1111/jrh.12359
M3 - Article
C2 - 30830984
AN - SCOPUS:85062555270
SN - 0890-765X
VL - 35
SP - 176
EP - 188
JO - Journal of Rural Health
JF - Journal of Rural Health
IS - 2
ER -