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- Title
Effect of Cultural, Folk, and Religious Beliefs and Practices on Delays in Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer in African American Women.
- Authors
Moorman, Patricia G.; Barrett, Nadine J.; Wang, Frances; Alberg, J. Anthony; Bandera, Elisa V.; Barnholtz-Sloan, J.B.; Bondy, Melissa; Cote, Michele L.; Funkhouser, Ellen; Kelemen, Linda E.; Peres, Lauren C.; Peters, Edwards S.; Schwartz, A. G.; Terry, Paul D.; Crankshaw, Sydnee; Abbott, Sarah E.; Schildkraut, Joellen M.
- Abstract
Background: Certain cultural, folk, and religious beliefs that are more common among African Americans (AAs) have been associated with later-stage breast cancer. It is unknown if these beliefs are similarly associated with delays in diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Methods: Data from a multicenter case–control study of ovarian cancer in AA women were used to examine associations between cultural/folk beliefs and religious practices and stage at diagnosis and symptom duration before diagnosis. Associations between cultural/folk beliefs or religious practices and stage at diagnosis were assessed with logistic regression analyses, and associations with symptom duration with linear regression analyses. Results: Agreement with several of the cultural/folk belief statements was high (e.g., 40% agreed that "if a person prays about cancer, God will heal it without medical treatments"), and ∼90% of women expressed moderate to high levels of religiosity/spirituality. Higher levels of religiosity/spirituality were associated with a twofold increase in the odds of stage III–IV ovarian cancer, whereas agreement with the cultural/folk belief statements was not associated with stage. Symptom duration before diagnosis was not consistently associated with cultural/folk beliefs or religiosity/spirituality. Conclusions: Women who reported stronger religious beliefs or practices had increased odds of higher stage ovarian cancer. Inaccurate cultural/folk beliefs about cancer treament were not associated with stage; however, these beliefs were highly prevalent in our population and could impact patient treatment decisions. Our findings suggest opportunities for health education interventions, especially working with churches, and improved doctor–patient communication.
- Subjects
OVARIAN tumors; BLACK people; CHURCH buildings; CULTURE; DIAGNOSIS; HEALTH education; MEDICAL cooperation; MEDICAL errors; PHYSICIAN-patient relations; PRAYER; REGRESSION analysis; RELIGION; RESEARCH; SPIRITUAL healing; SPIRITUALITY; TUMOR classification; WOMEN'S health; DECISION making in clinical medicine; LOGISTIC regression analysis; DISEASE prevalence; CASE-control method; ODDS ratio
- Publication
Journal of Women's Health (15409996), 2019, Vol 28, Issue 4, p444
- ISSN
1540-9996
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1089/jwh.2018.7031