ASPO Abstracts
Discrimination and Racial/Ethnic Identity May Influence a Patients" Beliefs About Their Cancer: Analysis of SKCC Catchment Area Surveys
Category: Cancer Health Disparities
Conference Year: 2022
Abstract Body:
Purpose of the study: To assess how racial identity and experiences with discrimination impact patients' attitudes about cancer and the autonomy they have over their cancer diagnosis Methods: Two surveys were utilized to recruit participants, The Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health follow-up survey and an Online Survey administered to New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents that live in the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) catchment area. We conducted the survey using five cancer belief items to assess patient outlook about cancer. Additionally, the everyday discrimination scale (EDS) was used to further assess how discrimination influenced participants beliefs about cancer. Racial/Ethnic identity of participants was also obtained to further assess how racial/ethnic identity influenced participants' beliefs about cancer.Results: Between 2018 and 2019 1,557 participants completed this survey. Participants that experienced discrimination a few times a year or more were more likely to believe that there is nothing you can do to lower your cancer risk. (EDS 2.1-2.7 p<0.001) We also found that a higher percentage of Caucasian participants agree that there are things you can do to lower cancer risk when compared with our Hispanic/Latino and African American participants. (p<0.001) Additionally the belief that a cancer diagnosis was equivalent to being told you would die was believed by 38.6% of Hispanic/Latino participants, which is around 2x higher than that of Caucasian participants, 19.4%. (p<0.001)Conclusions: Discrimination and race can play a major role in cancer beliefs that patients have and contribute to differing outcomes seen amongst patients diagnosed with cancer. This may impact choices patients make regarding cancer treatment, as well as behavior and lifestyle factors that patients engage in that impact risk for cancer. Education aimed to narrow knowledge gaps is prudent for providers to understand that historic experiences with discrimination may influence a patients' healthcare decisions, and that patients should be educated about the positive impact lifestyle changes may have on cancer outcomes based on randomized clinical data.
Keywords: Discrimination, Racial Identity, Cancer Beliefs, Patient Autonomy