Cancer fatalism among elderly Caucasians and African Americans.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between selected demographic factors (e.g., education, income, ethnicity, gender, age) and cancer fatalism.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
Randomly selected senior citizen centers in a southern state.


METHODS
The majority of the participants (N = 192) were female African Americans. Mean age of participants was 76 years, mean years of education was < or = 8 years, and mean income was below $6,500 per year.


METHODS
Demographic data was collected and Powe Fatalism Inventory was completed in face-to-face interviews.


METHODS
Education, income, ethnicity, gender, age, and cancer fatalism.


RESULTS
Significant negative correlations between cancer fatalism and education and income were found. Significant correlations also existed between cancer fatalism and ethnicity and gender. Age was not a significant predictor of cancer fatalism.


CONCLUSIONS
As participants' level of education and income decreased, cancer fatalism scores increased. African Americans and females had higher mean cancer fatalism scores. Education, income, ethnicity, and gender could be used to predict cancer fatalism scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research should evaluate the relationship between cancer fatalism and early detection practices.
Powe
B D
BD
Medical University of South Carolina's College of Nursing in Charleston, USA.
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D001293:Attitude to Death / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*