title: Understanding Perceived Benefit of Early Cancer Detection: Community-Partnered Research with African American Women in South Los Angeles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  African American women have lower 5-year cancer survival rates than non-Latino White women. Differences in perceived benefits of early cancer detection among racial/ethnic groups may affect cancer-screening behaviors. This study assessed correlates of perceived benefits of early breast, cervical and colorectal cancer detection among 513 African American women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a community-partnered participatory research approach, we conducted a survey on cancer screening, risk behaviors, and related knowledge and attitudes among African American parishioners at 11 churches in South Los Angeles, a neighborhood that experiences one of the highest cancer mortality rates in California.
  
  
  RESULTS
  African American women who participated in this study were more likely to believe that chances for survival are very good or good after early detection of breast cancer (74%) than after early detection of colorectal (51%) and cervical cancer (52%). Multivariate analyses show that perceived benefit of early cancer detection is associated with higher cancer knowledge and having discussed one's cancer risk with a doctor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given that 5-year survival rates for early stage breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer range from 84% to 93%, our data suggest that a substantial proportion of African American women in South Los Angeles are not aware of the benefits of early detection, particularly of colorectal and cervical cancers. Programs that increase cancer knowledge and encourage a discussion of individual's cancer risk with a doctor may be able to increase perceived benefit of early detection, a construct that has been shown to be associated with cancer screening in some studies.
authors.affiliation: 1 Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science , Los Angeles, California.|3 David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazargan
authors.affiliation: 1 Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science , Los Angeles, California.|2 Healthy African American Families , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucas-Wright
authors.affiliation: 1 Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science , Los Angeles, California.|2 Healthy African American Families , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: 3 David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: 1 Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Jaydutt V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Vadgama
authors.affiliation: 1 Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evers-Manly
authors.affiliation: 4 Fielding School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Annette E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Maxwell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods*; 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* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult