title: Perceptions of cancer as a death sentence: prevalence and consequences.
abstract: Research suggests that perceiving cancer as a death sentence is a critical determinant of health care-seeking behaviors. However, there is limited information regarding the prevalence of this perception in the US population. Cross-sectional analysis of data (n = 7674 adults) from the 2007-2008 administration of the nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 3) was performed. A majority (61.6%) of respondents perceived cancer as death sentence, and more than one-third (36%) of respondents reported that they avoid seeing their physicians. In the adult US population, perceiving cancer as a death sentence is common and is associated with education level and avoidance of physicians.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, USA moserr@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.affiliation: Maine Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Erika A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, SAIC-Frederick, USA.
authors.forename: Marni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amsellem
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, USA.
authors.forename: Bradford W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Hesse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cancer; health behavior; health psychology; perception; public health psychology