Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Moorman, Patricia G
• Barrett, Nadine J
• Wang, Frances
• Alberg, J Anthony
• Bandera, Elisa V
• Barnholtz-Sloan, J B
• Bondy, Melissa
• Cote, Michele L
• Funkhouser, Ellen
• Kelemen, Linda E
• Peres, Lauren C
• Peters, Edwards S
• Schwartz, A G
• Terry, Paul D
• Crankshaw, Sydnee
• Abbott, Sarah E
• Schildkraut, Joellen M

Titel

Effect of Cultural, Folk, and Religious Beliefs and Practices on Delays in Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer in African American Women

Ist Teil von

• Journal of women's health (Larchmont, N.Y. 2002), 2019-04, Vol.28 (4), p.444

Ort / Verlag

United States

Erscheinungsjahr

2019

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Certain cultural, folk, and religious beliefs that are more common among African Americans (AAs) have been associated with later-stage breast cancer. It is unknown if these beliefs are similarly associated with delays in diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Data from a multicenter case-control study of ovarian cancer in AA women were used to examine associations between cultural/folk beliefs and religious practices and stage at diagnosis and symptom duration before diagnosis. Associations between cultural/folk beliefs or religious practices and stage at diagnosis were assessed with logistic regression analyses, and associations with symptom duration with linear regression analyses. Agreement with several of the cultural/folk belief statements was high (e.g., 40% agreed that "if a person prays about cancer, God will heal it without medical treatments"), and ∼90% of women expressed moderate to high levels of religiosity/spirituality. Higher levels of religiosity/spirituality were associated with a twofold increase in the odds of stage III-IV ovarian cancer, whereas agreement with the cultural/folk belief statements was not associated with stage. Symptom duration before diagnosis was not consistently associated with cultural/folk beliefs or religiosity/spirituality. Women who reported stronger religious beliefs or practices had increased odds of higher stage ovarian cancer. Inaccurate cultural/folk beliefs about cancer treament were not associated with stage; however, these beliefs were highly prevalent in our population and could impact patient treatment decisions. Our findings suggest opportunities for health education interventions, especially working with churches, and improved doctor-patient communication.