title: Correlates of perceived risk of developing cancer among African-Americans in South Los Angeles.
abstract: There are differences in cancer-risk perception among racial/ethnic groups that may affect health risk behaviors. Using a community partnered-participatory research approach, we conducted a survey on cancer screening, risk behaviors, and related knowledge/attitudes within 11 churches in South Los Angeles with predominantly African-American parishioners. This analysis examines correlates of perceived risk of developing cancer among 755 African American adults. Almost 15 % of participants indicated higher perceived risk for cancer compared to the average man/woman of the same age, 38 % indicated same risk, whereas 48 % perceived lower risk. Sixty-nine individuals (9 %) reported a cancer history and 63 % reported at least one blood relative with cancer. Controlling for demographic characteristics and healthcare access, participants who reported higher risk of cancer had higher level of cancer-related knowledge; were current and ex-smokers; had poorer health status; had a blood relative with cancer; had a cancer history; and had discussed their risk of cancer with their doctor. The bivariate association between high perceived cancer risk and lack of exercise and obesity disappeared after adjusting for demographic characteristics and perceived health status. Our data suggest that a substantial proportion of African Americans in South Los Angeles may underestimate their cancer risk. Additionally, lack of exercise and obesity are not recognized as independent cancer risk factors as much as smoking and personal and family history of cancer. Next steps will be to inform participating churches about our findings and explore their interest in taking steps to reduce health risk behaviors among their parishioners.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Outreach, Prevention, and Control Program, Center to Eliminate Cancer Health Disparities, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 East 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90059, USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucas-Wright
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazargan
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jaydutt V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Vadgama
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarkissyan
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazdanshenas
authors.forename: Annette E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Maxwell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology*; D010465:Perception; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
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