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- Title
Knowledge and beliefs about cancer in a socioeconomically disadvantaged population.
- Authors
Loehrer Sr, Patrick J.; Greger, Heidi A.; Weinberger, Morris; Musick, Beverly; Miller, Michael; Nichols, Craig; Bryan, John; Higgs, Debra; Brock, Debra; Loehrer, P J Sr; Greger, H A; Weinberger, M; Musick, B; Miller, M; Nichols, C; Bryan, J; Higgs, D; Brock, D
- Abstract
Americans living in poverty experience a higher incidence of and greater mortality from cancer than the nonpoor. At least 50% of the difference in mortality is believed to be due to delay in diagnosis, although risk-promoting lifestyles and behaviors also contribute to decreased survival. A potential exacerbating factor among the poor is inadequate information and knowledge about cancer and its treatment. Interviews were conducted with 128 cancer patients from a socioeconomically disadvantaged population to assess knowledge of cancer and its treatment and to evaluate care-seeking behaviors. Results indicated that although patients relied primarily on their physicians for information about their disease and treatment, a number of misconceptions regarding cancer existed in this population. Notably, nearly 50% of the patients surveyed either denied or did not know that smoking was related to the development of cancer. Additionally, patients frequently reported inappropriate care-seeking behaviors when asked to respond to a series of common disease-related signs or symptoms. These findings suggest that misinformation and misconceptions regarding cancer and its treatment among patients in this sample may contribute to inappropriate care-seeking behaviors.
- Publication
Cancer (0008543X), 1991, Vol 68, Issue 7, p1665
- ISSN
0008-543X
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1002/1097-0142(19911001)68:7<1665::AID-CNCR2820680734>3.0.CO;2-3