Abstract B70: Characteristics, risk perception, and predictors of oral cancer knowledge among drag racers and their fans
Osazuwa-Peters, N; Hussaini, AS; Sujijatarat, N; Ganesh, R; Snider, M; Devin, T; Varvares, MA
Published in: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Objective: Interventions for oral head and neck cancer prevention and early detection can be more effective if the higher risk individuals are targeted. The aim of this study was to characterize smoking and alcohol use, and describe predictors of oral cancer knowledge and risk perception among a predominantly African-American population.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 13-14, 2013 among drag racers and fans in East St. Louis. Items were combined to form knowledge and risk perception scales, and outcome of interest was oral cancer knowledge level. Independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA assessed bivariate associations between variables. Logistic regression analysis measured predictors of oral cancer knowledge.Results: Three hundred and four participants completed questionnaire; 72.9% African Americans. Smoking rate was 26.7%; mean knowledge score 4.60 ± 2.52; and only 6.6% scored ≥ 9 out of 17 knowledge questions. Crude measures showed an association (p < .05) between oral cancer knowledge and sociodemographic variables (age, race, sex, educational status, marital status). In final adjusted regression model, only race and educational status remained predictors of oral cancer knowledge. Compared to other races, African Americans were three times more likely to have low oral cancer knowledge (95% CI = 1.47 – 6.49) and those with a high school diploma or less were five times more likely to have low oral cancer knowledge compared to college graduates (95% CI = 1.78 – 13.89).Conclusion and Relevance: There is a high smoking rate among drag racers and fans, but oral cancer knowledge is very low, especially among African Americans and those with limited education. Understanding predictors of oral cancer knowledge is important in future design of educational interventions specifically targeted towards this high-risk group.Citation Format: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Adnan S. Hussaini, Nanthiya Sujijatarat, Rajan Ganesh, Matthew Snider, Thompson Devin, Mark A. Varvares. Characteristics, risk perception, and predictors of oral cancer knowledge among drag racers and their fans. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B70.
