Abstract A84: Racial differences in factors associated with preventive cancer screening
Authors: Johnson Cicely K. 
Published: May 2016

Two of the most common cancers affecting Blacks in America are breast and prostate, cancer, and cervical cancer ranks in the top 10 diagnosed cancers for Blacks. This research is interested in comparisons between “male only” and “female only” cancers of the reproductive system (although acknowledging that men can have also breast cancer), in terms of differences in factors associated with screening by race.

Preventive screening is a strategy for finding and addressing possibilities of cancer or tumor existence in individuals, in an effort to prevent or find tumor growth. This study assessed racial differences in breast cancer (BC), cervical cancer (CC), and prostate cancer (PSA/DRE) screening by factors categorized as SES, demographic factors, lifestyle, and health/access to care. National Social Life, Health and Aging Project data were used to assess the degree to which education, age, marital status, religious service attendance, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, incontinence, number of doctor visits within the past year, discussions with provider about sex life changes, and having a place to go when sick, explained racial differences in cancer screening. Multiple regression analysis examined the relationship between the selected independent variables and the dependent variable of obtaining preventive cancer screening examinations (mammogram, Pap smear, PSA, and DRE).

Whereas age, education, marital status, number of doctor visits within the past year, having a place to go when sick, and religious service attendance significantly predicted BC screening for Whites, only religious service attendance predicted screening for Blacks. Cigarette smoking was inversely associated with BC screening among Whites. Age and cigarette smoking were inversely associated with CC screening among Blacks. Age, education, having a place to go when sick, number of doctor visits in past year, and religious service attendance significantly predicted increased CC screening among Whites for whom an inverse relationship was found between cigarette smoking and CC screening. For PSA screening, education, number of doctor visits per year, having a place to go when sick, religion, alcohol use, and discussions with a provider were significant for Whites, while age was inversely associated. The number of doctor visits within the past year, and discussions with a provider about sex life changes were found to be significant for Blacks and PSA screening. Whereas education, the number of doctor visits within the past year, having a place to go when sick, and discussions with a provider about sex life changes, were significant for Whites and DRE screening, while number of doctor visits within the past year, and alcohol use were significant for Blacks.

This research is extremely effective for design of public health promotion efforts in regard to Blacks and preventive cancer screening, particularly as it identifies factors significantly associated with decision-making. Additionally, this dataset enabled research to be gathered on preventive cancer screening frequency, using some variables that previously had not been explored in the literature. Additionally, some critical implications for future research were uncovered.

Citation Format: Cicely K. Johnson. Racial differences in factors associated with preventive cancer screening. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A84.