title: "I don't know" My Cancer Risk: Implications for Health Behavior Engagement.
abstract: Many people report uncertainty about their cancer risk. We examined whether such uncertainty was related to cancer prevention and detection behaviors.
  
  
  
  National Health Interview Survey data from 2005 to 2010 were analyzed. Participants reported their perceived risk for colorectal and breast cancers. Responses were coded as "valid" (i.e., less/as/more likely than average) or "don't know."
  
  
  
  In bivariate analyses for both cancer sites and survey years, "don't know" responders (DKR) engaged in less physical activity than "valid" responders (p < 0.05). DKR had lower mammography adherence than "valid" responders in 2005 and lower colorectal screening adherence in 2010 (p < 0.05). DKR had marginally lower colorectal screening adherence and fruit/vegetable consumption in 2005 (p < 0.06). Multivariable models indicated that the DKR-behavior relationship could be largely accounted for by education.
  
  
  
  Interventions that help people understand their cancer risk may provide particular benefit to people with low education and might consequently reduce health disparities.
authors.affiliation: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. waterse@wudosis.wustl.edu.|Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8100, 660 S. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA. waterse@wudosis.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Erika A
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7402-0133
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.affiliation: State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Marc T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Kiviniemi
authors.affiliation: State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orom
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D035501:Uncertainty; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breast cancer; Colon cancer; Health disparities; Risk perception