Reluctance to undergo follow-up screening for head and neck cancer is associated with income, gender, and tobacco use.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the factors associated with reluctance to undergo head and neck cancer follow-up screening.


METHODS
We surveyed 813 individuals for their medical history, income, behavior habits, and willingness to participate in phone or physical examination follow-up screening for head and neck cancer. Association of reluctance to undergo follow-up screening with the other aforementioned factors was assessed.


RESULTS
Overall, 10.9% (95% CI: 8.9-13.3%) of participants were reluctant to undergo follow-up screening. Patients with a history of cigar/pipe use (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.1-3.3, p = 0.03) or low income (under USD 30,000; OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.0-2.9, p = 0.04) were more reluctant to undergo phone follow-up. Males (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-4.1, p = 0.05) and those with low income (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1-4.0, p = 0.02) were more reluctant to undergo physical examination follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower income, male gender, and tobacco use are associated with reluctance to undergo follow-up screening for head and neck cancer.
Shan
Shannon J C
SJ
Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Zahurak
Marianna
M
Khan
Zubair
Z
Califano
Joseph A
JA
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D045808:Refusal to Participate / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology