Abstract A030: Racial Disparities in Cancer Beliefs among Oregon Residents
Authors: Feng Sophie , Li Jian , Farris Paige E. , Currier Jessica , Zhang Zhenzhen , Shannon Jackilen 
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Beliefs and perceptions about cancer risks significantly influences a person’s cancer screening and overall health behaviors. To better understand the factors associated with perceptions surrounding cancer in Oregon, this study examined racial differences in cancer risk beliefs among Oregon adults as part of the Population Health Assessment in Cancer Center Catchment Areas effort. Methods: This study utilizes data from the Understanding Cancer in Oregon (UCanOR) project, which included a 47-item cross-sectional survey capturing demographic and behavioral information. The survey was administered to participants selected through an area-based sampling strategy (51.8%) and a convenience sample (48.2%). Cancer beliefs and perceptions were assessed through five questions: 1) “There are so many different recommendations about preventing cancer, it's hard to know which ones to follow;” 2) “Cancer is most often caused by a person's behavior or lifestyle;” 3) “It seems like everything causes cancer; 4) When I think about cancer, I automatically think about death;” 5) “There is not much you can do to lower your chances of getting cancer.” Multivariable generalized linear regression and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between race/ethnicity and cancer beliefs either as a summed continuous variable or five specific binary variables with Agree vs. Disagree as the outcome, adjusting for confounders (age, sex, employment status, marital status, BMI, cancer history, insurance status). Results: The study included 1,357 respondents aged over 18 years old with a mean age of 50.0 (SD = 17.8), with the majority being Non-Hispanic White (87.3%), followed by Asian/Pacific Islanders (8.4%), Hispanic White (3.5%), and Black (0.8%). Asian/Pacific Islanders were significantly more likely than individuals of other racial backgrounds to have negative beliefs about cancer. Specifically, compared to Non-Hispanic White, Asian/Pacific Islanders were 2.5 times as likely to agree that “cancer is most often caused by a person’s behavior or lifestyle” [OR (95% CI) = 2.48 (1.64-3.75)] and that “there is not much you can do to lower your chances of getting cancer” [OR (95% CI) = 2.80 (1.70-4.62))], and 1.5 times as likely to agree that “when I think about cancer, I automatically think about death” [OR (95% CI) = 1.61 (1.07-2.41)]. Conclusion: This study found that Asians/Pacific Islanders in Oregon had significantly more negative cancer beliefs. In terms of future directions, interventions aimed at promoting healthy cancer prevention behaviors should particularly target Asian/Pacific Islander communities. This study enhances our ability to effectively plan and implement outreach, tailor interventions, engage patients, and recruit for clinical trials.

Citation Format: Sophie Feng, Jian Li, Paige E. Farris, Jessica Currier, Zhenzhen Zhang, Jackilen Shannon. Racial Disparities in Cancer Beliefs among Oregon Residents [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A030.