•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to determine the factors that may influence the probability of being recommended a lung cancer screening by a health professional in Virginia.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Community Health Assessment Survey conducted by the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System and Cancer System in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Cancer Center. SAS software was used to conduct a logistic regression with the following variables: age, sex, race, current smoking status, cancer history, education level, income level, insurance, and rurality.

Results: Statistically significant positive predictors included being a current smoker (OR: 3.504, CI: 1.576 - 7.794), having previous cancer history (OR: 2.159, CI: 1.090 - 4.278), and living in an urban environment (OR: 1.939, CI: 1.009 - 3.724).

Conclusion: Smoking, cancer history, and rurality were considered significant predictors of lung cancer screening recommendations by a health professional in Virginia while age, sex, race, education level, income level, and insurance were not considered significant predictors in this model. This study suggests that key mechanisms underlying lung cancer outcome disparities among racial minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups may lie beyond the level of screening recommendations. Further research investigating when along the disease progression these disparities tend to arise could help in creating more targeted public health interventions and improving health equity.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.