Abstract
We examined perceived risk, worry, and illness representations of lung cancer by smoking status using data from the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey (n=1,765). Perceived lung cancer risk was rated "very high" more frequently by current (15.2%) than former (1.9%) and never (1.6%) smokers. Current smokers more frequently reported worry about lung cancer (18.4%) than former (3.1%) and never smokers (1.8%). Confusion about lung cancer prevention was higher among current (55.2%) than former (41.3%) or never smokers (38.2%). Agreement that lung cancer is caused by a person's behavior was higher among never (86.1%) and former (82.6%) than current smokers (75.4%). In multivariable models, never (OR=.07) and former smokers (OR=.16) were less likely than current smokers to perceive their lung cancer risk as high. Never smokers (OR=.21) were significantly less likely than current smokers to report worrying about lung cancer, while former and current smokers did not differ.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 747-753 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Cancer Education |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2011 |
Keywords
- Lung cancer worry
- Risk perceptions
- Smoking
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health