Lifestyle Related Cancer Risk and Protective Behaviors Vary among a Convenient Sample of Physically Active, Young-to-Middle-Aged Adults 18-49.

It is an assumption that physically active adults lead an overall healthy lifestyle. To examine this assumption, we administered a cross-sectional, web-based survey to a sample of young-to-middle-aged US adults between 18 and 49 who self-reported participation in at least one recreational sporting event in the past month. Logistic regressions were conducted to examine demographic characteristics associated with cancer risk and protective behaviors. Gender was represented equally (N = 938), and the average age was 32 years (SD: 8.4). Most participants reported >three days of moderate- to high-intensity physical activity (79%), but not meeting fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines (78%). Many reported current tobacco use (32%), binge drinking at least once in the past 30 days (62%), and suboptimal sun protection use (67%). Participation in lifestyle-related cancer risk and protective behaviors varied based on age, sex, education, routine doctor visits, perceived overall health, health-information-seeking behavior (how participants obtained health information), or team-based sport participation in regression models. Future interventions should be tailored to address varied cancer risk profiles among even physically active adults to encourage multiple healthy behavior changes.

Racial, Lifestyle, and Healthcare Contributors to Perceived Cancer Risk among Physically Active Adolescent and Young Adult Women Aged 18-39 Years.

The cancer incidence among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) has significantly increased in recent years, but there is limited information about the factors that influence the perceived cancer risk among AYAs. A cross-sectional, web-based survey of 281 physically active Black and White AYA women was administered to assess the influences of demographic characteristics, family history of cancer, cancer risk factor knowledge, and lifestyle-related risk and protective behaviors on perceived cancer risk. Linear regression analyses were performed in SAS version 9.4. Self-reported Black race (ß = -0.62, 95% CI: -1.07, -0.17) and routine doctor visits (ß = -0.62, 95% CI: -1.18, -0.07) were related to a lower perceived cancer risk. Family history of cancer (ß = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.99), cancer risk factor knowledge (ß = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.19), and current smoking status (ß = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.20, 1.40) were related to a higher perceived cancer risk. Perceptions of cancer risk varied among this sample of physically active, AYA women. Lower perceptions of cancer risk among Black AYA women demonstrate a need for culturally tailored cancer educational information that presents objective data on lifetime cancer risk. Reportedly higher perceptions of cancer risk among AYA smokers presents an ideal opportunity to promote smoking cessation interventions. Future interventions to address cancer risk perception profiles among physically active, AYA women should tailor approaches that are inclusive of these unique characteristics.

Medical Communication-related Informational Need and Resource Preferences Among Family Caregivers for Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Despite advances in treatment, head and neck cancer (HNC) patients often experience considerable functional impairment during and following treatment. As a result, family caregivers are essential in a patient's recovery; however, few caregivers are well-prepared to handle the extensive caregiving needs of this patient population. To date, little is known about HNC caregivers' informational needs in this role. Thus, we surveyed a sample of HNC caregivers about their informational needs including those related to interacting in the medical context as a caregiver and meeting patient needs. We also asked these caregivers their preferences for obtaining caregiving information. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 59 family caregivers for HNC patients who had completed radiation therapy at a comprehensive cancer center. The majority of caregivers (74.6%) reported having high informational need at diagnosis related to interacting as a caregiver. Although the need for such information decreased over time, over half still had a high need for information at treatment end. Importantly, caregivers who desired information about reducing patient pain and distress also reported having greater informational needs on issues related to interacting in the medical context. Further, the caregivers most often preferred to receive information from health-care professionals as a first source. However, preferring an informal (e.g., Internet) resource at first was significantly associated with needing information on how to talk to a doctor or nurse. The development of evidence-based resources and tools for HNC caregivers as well as clinicians may help caregivers more effectively manage patient symptoms and warrants further attention. Further, Internet resources may represent an effective resource for providing caregivers with strategies toward enhancing communication with healthcare professionals.

Communicating anthrax in 2001: a comparison of CDC information and print media accounts.

Information about anthrax released by news media from October 4 to December 3, 2001, was identified, sampled, coded, and compared with information released by CDC during that period using statistical analysis. In addition, communications about two anthrax-related issues were examined in depth. The quantitative analysis showed that, overall, CDC information releases and news coverage tracked fairly closely. When weight was defined as number of mentions, both sources gave the same weight to reports of risk for the population. The news sample gave roughly half the weight as CDC to who was exposed, how people were exposed, and what role antibiotics play in preventing anthrax. The samples were widely divergent (CDC high, news sample low) for public health precautions and other details. The in-depth, qualitative analysis showed that some reporters misinterpreted information provided by CDC, but they responded to requests to clarify the issue. The findings of this study suggest ways to improve future crisis communication efforts and demonstrate how differing methods of analysis can yield substantially different conclusions.