Browsing by Subject "Cancer prevention"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Communication for behavioral impact: a COMBI plan for cancer prevention in Taiwan
    (2014-12) Chao, Kang-I; Parrish-Sprowl, John; Goering, Elizabeth M.; Sandwina, Ronald M.
    The aims of this research were to evaluate the merit of a communication-based medical approach to cancer prevention in Taiwan and to give deeper understanding of whether physicians view this type of method as a possible solution to public health problems. It is also hoped that this research will be able to find out whether doctors support the use of COMBI for managing public health issues in Taiwan. The results show that Taiwanese physicians perceive communication-based approach and communication methods as a way for managing public health problems, and they also agree that COMBI can be used for cancer or other public health issues prevention. The World Health Organization has used COMBI to deal with public health issues and has made a huge impact in many countries, combating diseases such as dengue fever, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS with successful results. There is also a large body of research indicating that there is a strong relationship between eating fruits and vegetables and cancer prevention. In Taiwan, cancer has been both the top cause of death for 18 years and one of the top ten causes of death for 30 years. However, more than 80% of people in Taiwan still do not consume enough fruits and vegetables daily. Thus, this COMBI plan is hoped to help change these people’s eating habits for cancer prevention. The plan is also evaluated by doctors from Taiwan in terms of its pros and cons in this document, and suggestions for changes are made. These doctors view communication-based strategies like COMBI as a key component for managing public health problems, and they also believe that this COMBI plan will accomplish its goal of increasing people's fruit and vegetable intake for cancer prevention in Taiwan. Up till now, only minimal research has been conducted on the use of COMBI in Taiwan. Therefore, this investigation is hoped to initiate this research and provide a guideline for future COMBI-based actions taken in Taiwan.
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    Relationships between masculinity beliefs and colorectal cancer screening in male veterans
    (2015) Christy, Shannon M.; Mosher, Catherine E.; Rawl, Susan M.; Rand, Kevin L.; Haggstrom, David A.
    Men’s adherence to masculinity norms has been implicated as a risk factor for unhealthy behaviors (e.g., drinking to intoxication, having unprotected sex with multiple, simultaneous partners) and lack of engagement in healthy behaviors (e.g., blood pressure screening, cholesterol screening, wearing protective clothing while in the sun, receipt of annual medical and dental exams) (Boman & Walker, 2010; Courtenay, 2000a, 2000b, 2011; Hammond, Matthews, & Corbie-Smith, 2010; Iwamoto, Cheng, Lee, Takamatsu, & Gordon, 2011; Locke & Mahalik, 2005; Mahalik, Lagan, & Morrison, 2006; Mahalik et al., 2003; Nicholas, 2000; Pachankis, Westmaas, & Dougherty, 2011; Pleck, Sonenstein, & Ku, 1993; Wade, 2009). Masculinity has been defined as behaviors, beliefs, and personality characteristics associated more often with men than women as well as characteristics and behaviors that society prescribes and reinforces in men (Thompson, Pleck, & Ferrera, 1992). Rooted in geographical, cultural, and temporal environments, diverse masculinities have emerged throughout the United States and the world (Connell, 1995; Courtenay, 2011). Traditional masculinity beliefs and behaviors in the United States include the sturdy oak (men should be tough, self-reliant, stoic, and confident), no sissy stuff (men should avoid feminine characteristics and behaviors), the big wheel (men should strive for success and status), and give ‘em hell (men should embrace aggressiveness, daring, and violence) (Brannon, 1976). Numerous qualitative studies have suggested that some men find cancer screening examinations involving the rectum (i.e., endoscopy for colorectal cancer [CRC] screening or digital rectal examination [DRE] for prostate cancer screening) an affront to their masculinity (see Table 1 for quotations from these studies) (Bass et al., 2011; Beeker, Kraft, Southwell, & Jorgensen, 2000; Getrich et al., 2012; Goldman, Diaz, & Kim, 2009; Harvey & Alston, 2011; Holt et al., 2009; Jilcott Pitts et al., 2013; Jones, Devers, Kuzel, & Woolf, 2010; Rivera-Ramos & Buki, 2011; Thompson, Reeder, & Abel, 2011; Wackerbarth, Peters, & Haist, 2005; Winterich et al., 2009). However, to the author’s knowledge, no quantitative studies have considered the role of masculinity in CRC screening adherence. Unfortunately, current CRC screening rates fall below the 70.5% Healthy People 2020 screening objective (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012).Research is needed to better understand relationships between men’s masculinity norms and CRC screening adherence so that interventions may be developed to reduce barriers to screening, improve screening rates, and, ultimately, decrease men’s mortality from CRC. The present study will address this gap in the literature by examining the masculinity norms and CRC screening adherence of male veterans aged 51-75 years who are at average CRC risk (Levin et al., 2008). First, the prevalence of CRC, its risk factors and warning signs as well as CRC screening techniques, screening rates, and characteristics of individuals who are adherent and non-adherent to CRC screening guidelines are summarized. Next, the concept of masculinity, theoretical and empirical support for studying masculinity norms within the context of CRC screening, and potential relationships between masculinity norms and colorectal cancer screening behaviors are described. Finally, the study methods, results, and future directions and limitations of this research are described.
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    A risk prediction tool for colorectal cancer screening: a qualitative study of patient and provider facilitators and barriers
    (BMC, 2020-02) Matthias, Marianne S.; Imperiale, Thomas F.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: Despite proven effectiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, at least 35% of screen-eligible adults are not current with screening. Decision aids and risk prediction tools may help increase uptake, adherence, and efficiency of CRC screening by presenting lower-risk patients with options less invasive than colonoscopy. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine patient and provider perceptions of facilitators and barriers to use of a risk prediction tool for advanced colorectal neoplasia (CRC and advanced, precancerous polyps), to maximize its chances of successful clinical implementation. Methods: We conducted qualitative, semi-structured interviews with patients aged 50-75 years who were not current with CRC screening, and primary care providers (PCPs) at an academic and a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Midwest from October 2016 through March 2017. Participants were asked about their current experiences discussing CRC screening, then were shown the risk tool and asked about its acceptability, barriers, facilitators, and whether they would use it to guide their choice of a screening test. The constant comparative method guided analysis. Results: Thirty patients and PCPs participated. Among facilitators were the tool's potential to increase screening uptake, reduce patient risk, improve resource allocation, and facilitate discussion about CRC screening. PCP-identified barriers included concerns about the tool's accuracy, consistency with guidelines, and time constraints. Conclusions: Patients and PCPs found the risk prediction tool useful, with potential to increase uptake, safety, and efficiency of CRC screening, indicating potential acceptability and feasibility of implementation into clinical practice.
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    Somatic genetic aberrations in benign breast disease and the risk of subsequent breast cancer
    (Nature, 2020-06-12) Zeng, Zexian; Vo, Andy; Li, Xiaoyu; Shidfar, Ali; Saldana, Paulette; Blanco, Luis; Xuei, Xiaoling; Luo, Yuan; Khan, Seema A.; Clare, Susan E.; Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine
    It is largely unknown how the development of breast cancer (BC) is transduced by somatic genetic alterations in the benign breast. Since benign breast disease is an established risk factor for BC, we established a case-control study of women with a history of benign breast biopsy (BBB). Cases developed BC at least one year after BBB and controls did not develop BC over an average of 17 years following BBB. 135 cases were matched to 69 controls by age and type of benign change: non-proliferative or proliferation without atypia (PDWA). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed for the BBB. Germline DNA (available from n = 26 participants) was utilized to develop a mutation-calling pipeline, to allow differentiation of somatic from germline variants. Among the 204 subjects, two known mutational signatures were identified, along with a currently uncatalogued signature that was significantly associated with triple negative BC (TNBC) (p = 0.007). The uncatalogued mutational signature was validated in 109 TNBCs from TCGA (p = 0.001). Compared to non-proliferative samples, PDWA harbors more abundant mutations at PIK3CA pH1047R (p < 0.001). Among the 26 BBB whose somatic copy number variation could be assessed, deletion of MLH3 is significantly associated with the mismatch repair mutational signature (p < 0.001). Matched BBB-cancer pairs were available for ten cases; several mutations were shared between BBB and cancers. This initial study of WES of BBB shows its potential for the identification of genetic alterations that portend breast oncogenesis. In future larger studies, robust personalized breast cancer risk indicators leading to novel interception paradigms can be assessed.