Abstract SS01-04: Objective and perceived risk of cervical cancer risk among Appalachian women.

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: Appalachia is a geographic area with elevated cervical cancer incidence rates, yet little research has examined the accuracy of the cervical cancer risk perceptions of women living in this region. We examined the accuracy of Appalachian women's cervical cancer risk perceptions and identified factors correlated with accurate risk perceptions. Methods: Completed in 2006, we surveyed women (n=411) from Appalachian Ohio for the Community Awareness Resources Education (CARE) study. We calculated women's actual cervical cancer risk using the CARE Risky Sexual Behavior Index (classified as high, medium, or low risk), and women indicated their perceived risk of cervical cancer (classified as higher than, about the same as, or lower than other women). We used multivariate logistic regression to identify factors correlated with women accurately classifying their risk. Results: About 38% of women had high actual risk of cervical cancer, 31% had medium risk, and 31% had low risk. Most women (56%) perceived their risk of cervical cancer to be about the same as other women. About 38% of women accurately classified their cervical cancer risk. Women ages 31-50 (OR=1.77, 95% CI: 1.03-3.05; compared to women ages 51 and older) and those with a prior abnormal Pap test (OR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.01-2.39) were more likely to accurately perceive their cervical cancer risk. Conclusions: Most Appalachian women do not accurately perceive their risk of developing cervical cancer. This may be particularly true for older women and those who have no history of abnormal Pap tests. Education efforts are needed to help Appalachian women better understand their risk for cervical cancer, which may in turn help improve cervical cancer screening rates among this population. Citation Format: Electra D. Paskett, Nicolas P. Bons, Paul L. Reiter. Objective and perceived risk of cervical cancer risk among Appalachian women. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr SS01-04.