title: Family history of cancer predicts Papanicolaou screening behavior for African American and white women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding women's motivations for getting Papanicolaou (Pap) screening has the potential to impact cancer disparities. This study examined whether having a family history of cancer was a predictor for Pap screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using the National Health Interview Survey 2000 Cancer Control and Family modules, we identified a subsample (n=15,509) of African American (n=2774) and white women (n=12,735) unaffected by cancer, with and without a family history of cancer. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  African American and white women with a positive family history of cancer were 42% (P<.0001) more likely to have had a recent Papanicolaou (Pap) test than their counterparts without a family history of cancer. Among African American women, those with a positive family history of cancer were 53% more likely to have had a recent Pap test, whereas among white women those with a positive family history of cancer were 41% more likely to have received a Pap test. African American women with a family history of cancer were more likely to have had a recent Pap test than white women with or without a family history of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study presents a unique perspective on Pap screening behavior. Having an immediate family member with any cancer statistically predicted having a recent Pap test for both African American and white women. Because these results demonstrated that regardless of the cancer type, having an immediate affected family member is a motivator for cervical cancer screening behavior, healthcare providers managing cancer treatment patients have a teachable opportunity that extends beyond the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. karen.williams@ht.msu.edu
authors.forename: Karen Patricia
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Athur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mabiso
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Electra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paskett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*