Ted Gansler|S. Jane Henley|Kevin Stein|Eric J. Nehl|Carol Smigal|Edwin Slaughter
Sociodemographic determinants of cancer treatment health literacy
American Cancer Society|American Cancer Society|American Cancer Society|Indiana University Bloomington|American Cancer Society|Rodale Institute
ethnic racial disparities cancer outcomes often attributed sociodemographic factors including income education insurance status access quality cancer care less attention directed toward possible contributors misconceptions cancer treatmentnine hundred fiftyseven us adults reported never diagnosed cancer identified surveyed using random digit dialing telephone survey sociodemographic associations endorsement five misconceptions cancer treatment evaluated weighted logistic regressionthe prevalent misconception treating cancer surgery cause spread throughout body endorsed true 41 respondents second prevalent misconception medical industry withholding cure cancer public order increase profits identified true 27 statement pain medications ineffective cancer pain accurately rejected 68 respondents 89 respondents correctly disagreed statement need beat cancer positive attitude treatment eightyseven percent respondents able identify statement cancer something cannot effectively treated false respondents older nonwhite southern indicated less informed cancer endorsed misconceptionsthe prevalence least three five cancer misconceptions unacceptably high varied several sociodemographic factors beliefs may increase risk cancer morbidity mortality poor adherence treatment regimens