A faith- and community-based approach to identifying the individual at risk for head and neck cancer in an inner city

• Published in: The Laryngoscope Vol. 123; no. 6; p. 1439
• Main Authors: Carter, John M, Winters, Ryan D, Lipin, Rosa, Lookabaugh, Sara, Cai, David, Friedlander, Paul L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2013
• Subjects: Early Detection of Cancer - methods; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnosis; Head and Neck Neoplasms - epidemiology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - psychology; Homeless Persons; Humans; Mass Screening; New Orleans - epidemiology; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Religion; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Urban Population; New Orleans
• ISSN: 1531-4995
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.23981

To perform a subset analysis of faith- and community-based screening events to further identify at-risk populations for head and neck cancer in hopes of further focusing screening efforts. Prospective cohort study. Three hundred fifty-three individuals (n=353) presented to community events and self-selected for head and neck cancer screenings. A subgroup analysis focusing on risk factors for the development of head and neck cancer and for poor overall prognosis was performed. Subgroups analyzed were individuals screened at church-affiliated events, social events, or community outreach events at homeless shelters. Statistical analysis was performed using one-tailed analysis of variance test. The outreach group had more risk factors for development of cancer, and a significantly higher proportion who used tobacco (P<.05) and consumed >1 drink/day (P<.05). Those in the outreach and church groups had a greater number of risk factors for a poor prognosis with and neck cancer in comparison with the social group: number of uninsured subjects (P<.05), fewer subjects with private insurance (P<.05), fewer subjects with a primary care provider (P<.05), and more subjects with a reported barrier to care (P<.05). Inhabitants of homeless shelters represent a particularly vulnerable population for both the development and poor prognosis of head and neck cancer. Members of urban church groups are also an at-risk subpopulation due to the prevalence of poor prognostic risk factors. These groups may benefit from future targeted screenings for head and neck cancer.