Cancer risk and risk communication in urban, lower-income neighborhoods.
OBJECTIVE
Family history of cancer is an important risk factor for the disease, and communicating with family and physicians about family history is critical to cancer risk assessment. This study examined cancer risk communication with family and physicians.


METHODS
A telephone interview was administered to randomly selected participants (n=217) from 5 urban, lower-income communities in 2006 and 2007. A large proportion of the population were minorities and of lower socio-economic status (47% African American, 43% incomes <$25,000). Most (76%) believed family history was important, and approximately half talked to their family (50%) or their physician (49%) about their cancer risk.


RESULTS
Respondents were equally likely as family members to initiate discussions about cancer risk, but respondents were more likely to initiate discussions with physicians. Logistic regression models were fit to talk to family, talk to physician, and perceived risk. In multivariable analysis, higher income and greater worry were associated with talking to family about risk, and higher income was associated with talking to physician about risk. Gender, family history and worry were associated with greater perceived risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to decrease income barriers to cancer risk communication are needed.
Kelly
Kimberly M
KM
Human Cancer Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Kimberly.Kelly@osumc.edu
Ferketich
Amy K
AK
Sturm
Amy C
AC
Porter
Kyle
K
Sweet
Kevin
K
Kemp
Kathleen
K
Schwirian
Patricia
P
Westman
Judith A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult