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Racial differences in use of cancer prevention services among older Americans
V Hegarty1, B M Burchett, D T Gold
1National Center for Health Promotion, VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Context:
Racial differences in receipt of cancer prevention services may be related to poorer outcomes for minorities. Understanding reasons for such differences could help target appropriate interventions.
Objectives:
To determine if racial differences exist in the use of cancer prevention services among older blacks and whites and to explore explanatory factors.
Design:
Sixth follow-up survey of probability sample, four-stage stratified household design with 4,162 at baseline in 1986-1987 and 2,846 surveyed in 1992-1993.
Setting:
The Piedmont area of North Carolina.
Participants:
At time of follow-up survey in 1992-1993 there were 1,486 women and 726 men age >70 years, of whom 1,246 were black and 966 were white.
Measurements:
Self-reported use of Papanicolou (pap) testing, clinical breast examination, mammography, rectal examination, and fecal occult blood testing on a regular basis within the last two years.
Results:
Compared with older whites, older black persons are less likely to receive pap test (48.1% black vs 56.6% white, P < .001), clinical breast examination (64.6% black vs 69.2% white, P < .007), mammography (30.2% black vs 40.5% white, P < .001), rectal examination (50.2% black vs 62.4% white, P < .001), and fecal occult blood testing (37.5% black vs 46.2% white, P < .001). Effect of race on receipt of cancer prevention services was not significant when levels of education, income, and insurance coverage were considered.
Conclusion:
Racial differences exist in the use of cancer prevention services among older Americans. However, these differences are related to educational, income, and insurance differences between blacks and whites.