title: A faith- and community-based approach to identifying the individual at risk for head and neck cancer in an inner city.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a subset analysis of faith- and community-based screening events to further identify at-risk populations for head and neck cancer in hopes of further focusing screening efforts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred fifty-three individuals (n=353) presented to community events and self-selected for head and neck cancer screenings. A subgroup analysis focusing on risk factors for the development of head and neck cancer and for poor overall prognosis was performed. Subgroups analyzed were individuals screened at church-affiliated events, social events, or community outreach events at homeless shelters. Statistical analysis was performed using one-tailed analysis of variance test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outreach group had more risk factors for development of cancer, and a significantly higher proportion who used tobacco (P<.05) and consumed >1 drink/day (P<.05). Those in the outreach and church groups had a greater number of risk factors for a poor prognosis with and neck cancer in comparison with the social group: number of uninsured subjects (P<.05), fewer subjects with private insurance (P<.05), fewer subjects with a primary care provider (P<.05), and more subjects with a reported barrier to care (P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inhabitants of homeless shelters represent a particularly vulnerable population for both the development and poor prognosis of head and neck cancer. Members of urban church groups are also an at-risk subpopulation due to the prevalence of poor prognostic risk factors. These groups may benefit from future targeted screenings for head and neck cancer.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. jcarter9@tulane.edu
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Carter
authors: Ryan D
authors: RD
authors: Winters
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Lipin
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Lookabaugh
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Cai
authors: Paul L
authors: PL
authors: Friedlander
mesh_terms: D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D055820:New Orleans / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012067:Religion; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population