The choice to participate in cancer screening is more complex than it may seem and
often reflects a multifactorial decision made by patients in an individual social
context. While screening remains a vital means of detecting early-stage malignancy,
facilitating appropriate treatment, and improving cancer-related survival, it requires
that a clinically well and asymptomatic individual voluntarily engage with the healthcare
system. As Dr. Fayanju and her colleagues adeptly highlight in their study, large
swaths of the population – often patients from low socioeconomic backgrounds, immigrants,
and ethnic minorities – have low rates of cancer screening participation.
1
,
- Fayanju O.M.
- et al.
Modifiable patient-reported factors associated with cancer-screening knowledge and
participation in a Community-based Health Assessment.
Am J Surg. 2023; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.10.059
2
,
3
Due to historical mistreatment and exploitation of these communities by the American
healthcare system, these groups often have generations of trauma and justified mistrust
of clinicians that can result in hesitancy to engage in cancer screening and may perpetuate
disparities in cancer detection and outcomes. The authors of this study attempt to
identify modifiable system and patient factors that could provide opportunities for
intervention and improvements in screening habits, especially among these key populations.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 11, 2022
Accepted:
November 6,
2022
Received:
November 4,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
