Relationships of Family History-related Factors and Causal Beliefs to Cancer Risk Perception and Mammography Screening Adherence Among Medically Underserved Women

Abstract

This study examines how family history-related factors and causal beliefs affect underserved women’s cancer risk perceptions and adherence to mammography. 1,010 patients at a primary care safety net clinic at a large urban hospital completed a survey in 2015. Of the 1,010 patients, 467 women 45 years of age or older were included in this analysis. The majority of participants were African American (68%). We built multivariable linear and logistic regression models to examine the dependent variables of cancer risk perception and mammography screening adherence. According to the results, those with a family history of cancer were significantly more likely to be adherent to mammography. Perceived importance of family health history also significantly predicted their mammography screening adherence. However, cancer risk perceptions did not predict underserved women’s mammography adherence. Significant interaction effects on the associations 1) between family cancer history, cancer risk perceptions, and mammography screening adherence and 2) between race, behavioral causal beliefs, and risk perceptions were found. Findings suggest that implementing different strategies across racial groups and by cancer history may be necessary to promote regular mammography screening.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the patients who participated in this study, data collection and data entry team, Center for Outpatient Health Primary Care Clinic staff, administrators, and residents for their contributions to our work.

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval Statement

This study was approved by Washington University IRB (approval no.201212029).

Additional information

Funding

Financial support for the Survey of Center for Outpatient Health Patients and the project team was provided by the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation, Siteman Cancer Center [Grant#: P30CA91842], Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM), and WUSM Faculty Diversity Scholars Program.