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Free screenings, education increased cancer awareness in urban areas
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Urban residents who received free head and neck cancer screenings were more likely to volunteer to promote cancer awareness and to report increased knowledge of cancer than suburban residents.
“Offering free head and neck cancer screenings to the community is valuable resource that has a positive impact,” Tamer A. Ghanem, MD, PhD, director of the head and neck oncology and microvascular surgery division, and division chief of the department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, said in a press release.
Tamer A. Ghanem
Ghanem and colleagues surveyed 118 adults who presented for free head and neck screenings across urban and suburban sites to evaluate self-reported risk factors and knowledge-related gaps regarding head and neck cancer risk factors between groups.
Ninety-eight participants agreed to complete behavioral risk questionnaires designed to assess knowledge regarding head and neck cancer, ancestry, smoking/tobacco use, alcohol use and sexual history.
According to the survey, those who attended screening at urban sites were more likely to be black (P<.001), be a current smoker (P=.05), report more cumulative years consuming alcohol (P=.04) and report treatment for some other cancer (P=.01) than those who lived in a suburban community.
In addition, researchers observed that urban residents displayed improved willingness to support awareness efforts (P=.02) and demonstrated increased comprehension of head and neck cancer symptoms (P=.03) than those in a suburban environment.
“Our study shows we have an opportunity to further enhance these screenings by including an evaluation of behavioral risks associated with head and neck cancer, and the patient’s knowledge of those risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol use,” Ghanem said.
An additional screening scheduled for next spring will include an evaluation of medical literacy and assess for other areas of gaps in knowledge.
For more information:
Ghanem TA. Head and neck cancer screenings in suburban and urban populations in the state of Michigan: the need for more education. Presented at: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.