Study shows minorities consider themselves less likely to develop cancer compared with whites
New research shows that cancer prevention beliefs differ between whites and minorities, including Asians, blacks, and Hispanics, and that minorities feel they are less likely than whites to develop cancer.
The study, by Moffitt Cancer Center researchers, involved analyzing national data and evaluating study participants’ cancer perceptions. Assessments of patient perceptions included: an individual’s cancer risk, their ability to prevent cancer, the severity of cancer, early cancer detection benefits, and knowledge of cancer screening and detection.
According to study senior author B. Lee Green, PhD, senior member of the Health Outcomes and Behavior Program at Moffitt, “Blacks, Asians and Hispanics were all more likely to believe that they had a lower chance of getting cancer than did whites.”
Also, when compared with whites and blacks, Hispanics were less likely to believe in their ability to decrease their chances of developing cancer. With regard to cancer prevention recommendations, study participants found it difficult to determine which to follow, regardless of race or ethnicity.
The study is published online in the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Source: Moffitt Cancer Center.