Abstract 4222: Examining sociodemographic disparities in perceptions of cancer risk from medical imaging radiation
Authors: Taparra Kekoa , Pepin Kay , Moser Richard , Hesse Bradford , Greenberg Alexandra 
Published: July 2017

In the United States, ionizing radiation from medical imaging is estimated to account for nearly half of the total radiation exposure among the general population. While controversial, some estimates suggest thousands of future cancer cases can be attributed to radiation from medical imaging. With the advancement in medical technologies, understanding the health risks of radiation from medical imaging has become increasingly complex for the average cancer patient. This complexity may shape the public’s perceptions of the potential cancer risks of medical imaging tests, including as x-rays, mammography, and radioactive dyes. Due to the enumerable, often misleading, sources of information available to the average consumer regarding the effect of radiation on general health, trends in risk perception need to be assessed. To investigate the association between perceptions of radiation exposure from medical imaging and cancer risk, we analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 4, Cycle 2). HINTS is a probability-based nationally-representative survey which collects data on the American public’s knowledge, perception, and use of cancer- and health-related information since 2003. The data examined in the present study were collected between October 2012 and January 2013; (response rate = 39.97%). Bivariate analyses reveal individuals who perceive medical imaging radiation to be harmful to health are largely female, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, or non-Hispanic Asian, with less education and lower incomes. This perception is especially prevalent in individuals who self-report having a poor or fair general health and less confidence in their ability to take care of their own health. After adjusting for sociodemographic and health care factors, a significantly increased odds of believing radiation from medical imaging causes “some” or “a lot” of harm to health was found among those who have had a previous cancer diagnosis compared to those who did not (OR=1.67, 95%CI=1.18-2.35). Individuals who self-reported being Hispanic (OR=2.08, 95%CI=1.29-3.34), non-Hispanic Black (OR=1.54, 95%CI=1.09-2.19), and non-Hispanic Asian (OR=4.66, 95%CI=2.05-10.62) had significantly higher odds of perceiving “some” or ”a lot” of harm to health from medical imaging compared to non-Hispanic white counterparts. Our data reveal existing populations that perceive radiation from medical imaging is harmful to health. These perceptions, particularly among women and minorities, may affect the personal decisions of cancer care from individual patients. Future analyses may be useful to identify whether these perceptions alter health outcomes, especially related to frequency of patients declining cancer radiation therapy. Overall, understanding patient perceptions of radiation exposure and cancer risk may help guide conversation and education for physicians with their patients.

Citation Format: Kekoa Taparra, Kay Pepin, Richard Moser, Bradford Hesse, Alexandra Greenberg. Examining sociodemographic disparities in perceptions of cancer risk from medical imaging radiation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4222. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4222