Medical Maximizing Preferences and Beliefs About Cancer Among US Adults

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Medical Decision Making
• Public Health

Background:

• Medical overutilization leads to increased healthcare costs and patient risks from unnecessary procedures.
• Understanding public attitudes towards medical utilization is crucial for addressing healthcare inefficiencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine public attitudes towards medical utilization.
• To investigate the association between these attitudes and beliefs about cancer.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey of US adults was conducted using Prolific Academic.
• Participants' medical utilization preferences were assessed using the Maximizer-Minimizer Elicitation Question.
• Logistic regression analyzed factors associated with maximizing medical utilization, including cancer beliefs and worry.

Main Results:

• 25.4% of participants were classified as 'maximizers' (preferring action in ambiguous medical situations).
• Maximizing preferences were associated with self-reported excellent health, Black race, high cancer worry, and overestimating cancer incidence.
• Belief in higher personal cancer risk was also linked to maximizing, though not significant in regression.

Conclusions:

• Medical maximizing tendencies in US adults correlate with increased cancer worry and inaccurate perceptions of cancer incidence.
• Targeted, personalized education on cancer and its risk factors could help mitigate the overutilization of oncologic care.