Lung cancer stigma predicts timing of medical help-seeking behavior.
OBJECTIVE
To examine relationships among demographic variables, healthcare system distrust, lung cancer stigma, smoking status, and timing of medical help-seeking behavior in individuals with symptoms suggestive of lung cancer after controlling for ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and social desirability.


METHODS
Descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study.


METHODS
Outpatient oncology clinics in Louisville, KY.


METHODS
94 patients diagnosed in the past three weeks to six years with all stages of lung cancer.


METHODS
Self-report, written survey packets were administered in person followed by a semistructured interview to assess symptoms and timing characteristics of practice-identified patients with lung cancer.


METHODS
Timing of medical help-seeking behavior, healthcare system distrust, lung cancer stigma, and smoking status.


RESULTS
Lung cancer stigma was independently associated with timing of medical help-seeking behavior in patients with lung cancer. Healthcare system distrust and smoking status were not independently associated with timing of medical help-seeking behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
FINDINGS suggest that stigma influences medical help-seeking behavior for lung cancer symptoms, serving as a barrier to prompt medical help-seeking behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
When designing interventions to promote early medical help-seeking behavior in individuals with symptoms suggestive of lung cancer, methods that consider lung cancer stigma as a barrier that can be addressed through public awareness and patient-targeted interventions should be included.
School of Nursing, Indiana University in Indianapolis.
Lisa
L
Carter-Harris
School of Nursing, University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Carla P
CP
Hermann
School of Nursing, University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Judy
J
Schreiber
Center for Nursing Research and Scholarship.
Michael T
MT
Weaver
School of Nursing, Indiana University.
Susan M
SM
Rawl
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D057545:Social Stigma; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
decision making; healthcare system distrust; lung cancer; lung cancer stigma; medical help-seeking behavior