Rural Women's Perceptions About Cancer Disparities and Contributing Factors: a Call to Communication

Yamile Molina; Kristine Zimmermann; Leslie R Carnahan; Ellen Paulsey; Cabral A Bigman; Manorama M Khare; Whitney Zahnd; Wiley D Jenkins

doi:10.1007/s13187-017-1196-5

Back

Rural Women's Perceptions About Cancer Disparities and Contributing Factors: a Call to Communication

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Rural Women's Perceptions About Cancer Disparities and Contributing Factors: a Call to Communication

Yamile Molina, Kristine Zimmermann, Leslie R Carnahan, Ellen Paulsey, Cabral A Bigman, Manorama M Khare, Whitney Zahnd and Wiley D Jenkins

Journal of cancer education, Vol.33(4), pp.749-756

08/2018

DOI: 10.1007/s13187-017-1196-5

PMCID: PMC5572753

PMID: 28243956

Files and links (1)

url

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/5572753View

Open Access

Abstract

Rural cancer disparities are increasingly documented in the USA. Research has identified and begun to address rural residents' cancer knowledge and behaviors, especially among women. Little, however, is known about rural female residents' awareness of cancer inequities and perceived contributing factors affecting them and their families. The purpose of this study was to address these gaps in the literature via a secondary analysis of qualitative needs assessment in Illinois' rural southernmost seven counties, a geographic region with relatively high rates of cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality. A convenience sample of 202 rural adult female residents was recruited and participated in 26 focus groups, with 3-13 women per group. Inductive content analysis, guided by the principle of constant comparison, was used to analyze the qualitative data. Most respondents indicated their awareness of disproportionate cancer burden in their communities. Individual-level behaviors and environmental toxins were identified as contributing factors. Interestingly, however, environmental toxins were more often discussed as factors contributing to geographic differences, whereas individual-level behaviors were noted as important for overall cancer prevention and control. This study provides important insight into female rural residents' perspectives and offers novel venues for educational programs and research in the context of communication to eliminate disparities.

Adult

Awareness

Communication

Female

Focus Groups

Health Status Disparities

Healthcare Disparities

Humans

Illinois

Needs Assessment

Neoplasms

Rural Population

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: Rural Women's Perceptions About Cancer Disparities and Contributing Factors: a Call to Communication
Creators: Yamile Molina - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA. ymolin2@uic.edu
Kristine Zimmermann - University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 West Taylor Street (MC923), Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
Leslie R Carnahan - University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 West Taylor Street (MC923), Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
Ellen Paulsey - University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 West Taylor Street (MC923), Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
Cabral A Bigman - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Manorama M Khare - University of Illinois College of Rockford, Rockford, IL, USA
Whitney Zahnd - Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
Wiley D Jenkins - Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of cancer education, Vol.33(4), pp.749-756
DOI: 10.1007/s13187-017-1196-5
PMID: 28243956
PMCID: PMC5572753
NLM abbreviation: J Cancer Educ
ISSN: 0885-8195
eISSN: 1543-0154
Grant note: U54 CA202995 / NCI NIH HHS U54CA202997 / NCI NIH HHS UG3OD023189 / NCI NIH HHS U54CA202995 / NCI NIH HHS K01 CA193918 / NCI NIH HHS UG3 OD023189 / NIH HHS U54 CA202997 / NCI NIH HHS K01CA193918 / NCI NIH HHS U54CA203000 / NCI NIH HHS K12 HD055892 / NICHD NIH HHS 1P20CA192987-01A1 / NCI NIH HHS U54 CA203000 / NCI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 08/2018
Academic Unit: Health Management and Policy
Record Identifier: 9984214848302771

Metrics

10 Record Views

6 Times Cited - Web of Science