Inclusion of women and minorities in occupational cancer epidemiologic research.
A survey of published epidemiologic studies from eight journals during 1971 to 1990 was conducted to assess the proportion and characteristics of occupational cancer studies that have included women and minorities. A total of 1233 reports included 562 (46%) with subjects limited to white men. The remaining 671 (54%) had subjects from other race-gender groups. Thirty-five percent included white women, but only 14% presented any analyses of white women specifically and only 7% presented more than five risk estimates. The proportions with analyses of nonwhite women (any = 2%; detailed = 1%) or men (any = 7%; detailed = 3%) were also small. Studies with detailed analyses of women and minorities tended to use weaker methodologies (ie, proportionate mortality or cross-sectional design) than the studies of white men and were less able to provide convincing data on the occupational cancer risks of women and minorities.
Zahm
S H
SH
Occupational Studies Section, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland 20892-7364.
Pottern
L M
LM
Lewis
D R
DR
Ward
M H
MH
White
D W
DW
D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D012106:Research; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health; D014931:Women, Working