Health belief model, social support, and intent to screen for colorectal cancer in older African American men

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Mary J. Griffin (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Carolyn Blue

Abstract: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. African American men are at the greatest risk for developing and dying from colorectal cancer. Using the Health Belief Model and the theory of Social Support as a framework, a cross-sectional, correlation design was used to gather data from a convenience sample of 52 older African American men. Measures used for this study were Champion's Health Belief Model Scale as adapted by Jacobs, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and a self designed tool for intent to screen for colorectal cancer as suggested by Ajzen. The mean age of participants was 61 years. The majority of men were employed, married, had at least one additional person in the household, were high school graduates, and 63% had had a previous colonoscopy. Older African American men reported mixed findings on construct scale scores. Seriousness was rated as low with susceptibility and barriers rated just below average. Benefits, self-efficacy, social support and rated above average or high. No significant correlations were found between the HBM constructs, social support and past colonoscopy and intent to screen. Seriousness and barriers were significant with past colonoscopy with an independent t-test. While multiple regressions did show a significant increase between model scores, significance was small and social support did not add to the variance in intent to screen for colorectal cancer.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2011
Keywords
African American males, Colorectal cancer, Health belief model, Screening, Social support
Subjects
Colon (Anatomy) $x Cancer
Rectum $x Cancer
African American men $x Diseases
Social networks $x Health aspects

Email this document to