ASPO Abstracts
Comparing help-seeking for cancer-related symptoms in the United States and the United Kingdom: Results from the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication, Early Detection & Risk Prediction
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
PURPOSE: To compare predictors of help-seeking for cancer-related symptoms in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). DATA: Population-based survey data (Awareness and Beliefs about Cancer instrument) collected independently among English-speaking adults (aged 50 or older) in the United States in 2014 (n=1,425) by the National Cancer Institute, and in the United Kingdom in 2011 (n=6,965) as part of Module 2 of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership. METHODS: Using Andersen’s Behavioral Model, we compared the following predictors of help-seeking for cancer-related symptoms: self-reported health status, difficulty in accessing a doctor, reasons for delaying care (4-items: too embarrassed, worried about wasting doctor’s time, worried about what the doctor might find, and too busy), and negative cancer beliefs (3-items: people with cancer can expect to continue normal activities (disagree); cancer can often be cured (disagree); and cancer is a death sentence). Using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, education, and gender, we examined associations between help-seeking predictors and country. All analyses were stratified by age (<65 years old vs 65 years or older), and were weighted for survey sampling designs in each country. RESULTS: In contrast to the US, both younger and older adults in the UK were substantially more likely to report being worried about wasting the doctor’s time [<65y: aOR: 6.69 (4.32,10.37); 65y+: aOR: 3.72 (2.49, 5.55)], but less likely to report being too busy as reasons to delay care [<65y: aOR: 0.60 (0.45, 0.81); 65y+: aOR: 0.52 (0.33, 0.82)]. In the UK, younger adults were less likely to view cancer as incurable [<65y: aOR: 0.39 (0.26,0.59)] and as ceasing normal activities [<65y: aOR: 0.49 (0.31, 0.77)]. Older adults in the UK were less likely to report being worried about what the doctor might find as a barrier to seeking care [65+: aOR: 0.60 (0.44, 0.82)]. There were no significant differences by country in difficulty accessing a doctor, or self-reported health status. CONCLUSION: Systematic measures and research across countries are needed to compare how individual, cultural, and healthcare system factors intersect to impact help-seeking behaviors for cancer-related symptoms.
Keywords: Healthcare utilization and behaviors