title: Are long-term cancer survivors and physicians discussing health promotion and healthy behaviors?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to (1) describe the proportion of survivors reporting that a physician discussed strategies to improve health and (2) identify which groups are more likely to report these discussions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lung cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors (>5 years from diagnosis) (n = 874) completed questionnaires, including questions on whether, in the previous year, a physician discussed (1) strategies to improve health, (2) exercise, and (3) diet habits. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used to examine whether the likelihood of these discussions varied by demographic and clinical characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine percent reported that a physician discussed strategies to improve health and exercise, 44% reported discussions on diet, and 24% reported no discussions. Compared to their counterparts, survivors with lower education were less likely to report discussing all three areas, but survivors with diabetes were more likely. Survivors ≥ 65 years old were less likely to report discussing strategies to improve health and diet. Males and CRC survivors reported discussing diet more than their female and lung cancer counterparts, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of health promotion discussions varied across survivor characteristics. Discussions were more frequently reported by some groups, e.g., survivors with diabetes, or among individuals less likely to engage in healthy behaviors. In contrast, males and older and less educated survivors were less likely to have these discussions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreasing physician barriers and encouraging patients to discuss health promotion, especially in the context of clinical care for older survivors and those with low education, is essential for promoting the overall well-being of cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kenzik
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pisu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Mona N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. mymartin@uab.edu.|Division of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT617, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA. mymartin@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Michelle Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Cancer survivors; Health behavior; Health promotion; Physician advice