title: Cancer screening practices among Amish and non-Amish adults living in Ohio Appalachia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Amish, a unique community living in Ohio Appalachia, have lower cancer incidence rates than non-Amish living in Ohio Appalachia. The purpose of this study was to examine cancer screening rates among Amish compared to non-Amish adults living in Ohio Appalachia and a national sample of adults of the same race and ethnicity in an effort to explain cancer patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face interviews focusing on perception of risk, cancer screening behaviors, and screening barriers were conducted among Amish (n = 134) and non-Amish (n = 154) adults living in Ohio Appalachia. Cancer screening rates were calculated and then compared to a national sample of adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More Ohio Appalachia non-Amish males (35.9% vs 14.5%; P= .022) and females (33.3% vs 12.5%; P= .008) reported that they would probably develop cancer in the future compared to Amish males and females. Amish adults had significantly lower prostate (13.5% vs 63.1% vs 44.6%; P < .001), colorectal (males: 10.3% vs 40.0% vs 37.2%, females: 8.6% vs 31.6% vs 42.9%; P < .001), cervical (48.0% vs 84.0% vs 80.0%; P < .001), and female breast (24.8% vs 53.7% vs 56.9%; P < .05) cancer screening rates compared to Ohio Appalachia non-Amish participants and a national sample of adults, respectively. Barriers to cancer screening were similar among the 2 Ohio groups; however, Amish males reported that prostate cancer screening was not necessary more often than did Ohio Appalachia non-Amish males (78.6% vs 16.7%; P= .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower rates of cancer screening were documented among the Amish and may be a contributing factor to the reduced cancer incidence rates reported among this population.
authors: College of Public Health and The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43201, USA. mira.katz@osumc.edu
authors: Mira L
authors: ML
authors: Katz
authors: Amy K
authors: AK
authors: Ferketich
authors: Electra D
authors: ED
authors: Paskett
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Harley
authors: Paul L
authors: PL
authors: Reiter
authors: Stanley
authors: S
authors: Lemeshow
authors: Judith A
authors: JA
authors: Westman
authors: Steven K
authors: SK
authors: Clinton
authors: Clara D
authors: CD
authors: Bloomfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001061:Appalachian Region; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012067:Religion; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*