ASPO Abstracts
Exploring cancer risk perceptions in Arab Americans in Chicago: a mixed method study
Category: Cancer Health Disparities
Conference Year: 2019
Abstract Body:
Purpose. The study explores cancer risk perceptions in Arab Americans (ArA) in Chicago by: 1) quantifying community perceptions about cancer and known risk factors (smoking, excess weight, inadequate exercise, unhealthy diets); and, 2) examining relationships between perceptions of cancer and risk factors with qualitative and quantitative data.Methods. Our concurrent mixed method study design used community-based sampling techniques and triangulated results from quantitative data from a community health survey and qualitative data from 3 focus groups (FG).Results. With regard to our quantitative data, 48% of 201 ArA respondents considered cancer to be a community health priority, but 19-36% respondents highlighted the commonness of known risk factors (excess weight, smoking, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet). Respondents who identified smoking as common were more likely to identify cancer as a community priority (p=0.009). Perceptions about cancer and other risk factors were not associated (ps=0.486—0.894). Emergent themes from our 15 FG participants clarified some of our survey findings, including inaccurate beliefs about risk behaviors (e.g., standing near microwaves, deodorant use) and fatalism regarding cancer prevention (i.e., unavoidable if God so intended). Simultaneously, whereas survey data suggested ArA participants identified smoking as a major cancer risk factor, FG data suggested ArA participants were more aware of diet as a cancer risk factor. Specifically, FG participants, mostly men, explicitly perceived the Arabic diet as healthy and protective against cancer, in contrast to the “American” diet, viewed as unhealthy and increasing cancer risk. Conclusions. Cancer was identified as a community health priority by half of survey respondents. Although study participants identified known risk factors for cancer, their perceptions of cancer risk were also shaped by misconceptions and cultural beliefs. As a result, cancer was paradoxically viewed as both preventable and unavoidable. To address the lack of triangulation between quantitative and qualitative findings regarding known risk factors, we will conduct additional focus groups to further explore of cancer risk perceptions with ArAs.
Keywords: community health assessment, cancer risk, Arab Americans