Skip to main content

Diet-Related Colorectal Cancer Prevention Beliefs and Dietary Intakes in an Urban Minority Population

Abstract

In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death and third most commonly diagnosed cancer among adults. This study is the first to examine the relationship between diet-related beliefs for colorectal cancer prevention and dietary intake among an urban, predominantly Black population (n = 169). More than two-thirds reported diet-related CRC prevention beliefs. Those with diet-related CRC prevention beliefs had healthier intakes for dietary fiber (p = .005), fruit, vegetable, bean (p = .027), red meat (p = .032), vitamin C (p = .039), and cholesterol (p = .045). Most people may already have diet-related CRC prevention beliefs and having them is associated with a more healthful dietary intake.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

References

  1. American Cancer Society (ACS). (2014). Colorectal cancer facts & figures 2014–2016. Atlanta: American Cancer Society. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/documents/document/acspc-042280.pdf. Accessed July 7, 2014.

  2. World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research. (2009). Colorectal cancer report 2010 summary: Food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of colorectal cancer. Washington, DC: AICR.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Causey, C., & Greenwald, B. (2011). Promoting community awareness of the need for colorectal cancer prevention and screening. Gastroenterology Nursing, 34(1), 34–40.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Greenwald, B. (2006). Promoting community awareness of the need for colorectal cancer screening: A pilot study. Cancer Nursing, 29(2), 134–141.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Robb, K. A., Miles, A., & Wardle, J. (2007). Perceived risk of colorectal cancer: Sources of risk judgements. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 16(4), 694–702.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ueland, A. S., Hornung, P. A., & Greenwald, B. (2006). Colorectal cancer prevention and screening: A health belief model-based research study to increase disease awareness. Gastroenterology Nursing, 29(5), 357–363.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wang, C., Miller, S. M., Egleston, B. L., Hay, J. L., & Weinberg, D. S. (2010). Beliefs about the causes of breast and colorectal cancer among women in the general population. Cancer Causes and Control, 21, 99–107.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Barnard, N. D., & Nicholson, A. (1997). Beliefs about dietary factors in breast cancer prevention among American women, 1991 to 1995. Preventive Medicine, 26, 109–113.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Busch, S. (2003). Elderly African American women’s knowledge and belief about colorectal cancer. Journal of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty, 14(5), 99–103.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Choe, J. H., Tu, S. P., Lim, J. M., Burke, N. J., Acorda, E., & Taylor, V. M. (2006). Heat in their intestine: Colorectal cancer prevention beliefs among older Chinese Americans. Ethnicity and Disease, 16, 248–254.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fernandez, M. E., Wippold, R., Torres-Vigil, I., Byrd, T., Freeberg, D., Bains, Y., et al. (2008). Colorectal cancer screening among Latinos from US cities along the Texas-Mexico border. Cancer Causes and Control, 19, 195–206.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Francois, F., Elysée, G., Shah, S., & Gany, F. (2009). Colon cancer knowledge and attitudes in an immigrant Haitian community. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 11, 319–325.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Goldman, R. E., Diaz, J. A., & Kim, I. (2009). Perspectives of colorectal cancer risk and screening among Dominicans and Puerto Ricans: Stigma and misperceptions. Qualitative Health Research, 19(11), 1559–1568.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Gwede, C. K., William, C., Thomas, K. B., Tarver, W. L., Quinn, G. P., Vadaparampil, S. T., et al. (2010). Exploring disparities and variability in perceptions and self-reported colorectal cancer screening among three ethnic subgroups of blacks of US blacks. Oncology Nursing Forum, 37(5), 581–591.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Block, G., Gillespie, C., Rosenbaum, E. H., & Jenson, C. (2000). A rapid food screener to access fat and fruit and vegetable intake. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 18(4), 284–288.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  16. ACS. (2011). Summary of the ACS guidelines on nutrition and physical activity. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/healthy/eathealthygetactive/acsguidelinesonnutritionphysicalactivityforcancerprevention/acs-guidelines-on-nutrition-and-physical-activity-for-cancer-prevention-summary. Accessed July 7, 2014.

  17. IBM Corp. (2010). IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 19.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Harnack, L., Block, G., Subar, A., Lane, S., & Brand, R. (1997). Association of cancer prevention-related nutrition knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes to cancer prevention dietary behavior. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 97, 957–965.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Patterson, R. E. (1996). Do beliefs, knowledge, and perceived norms about diet and cancer predict dietary change? American Journal of Public Health, 86(10), 1394–1400.

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Sullivan, H. W., & Klassen, A. C. (2007). Nutrition-related cancer prevention attitudes in low-income women. Preventive Medicine, 45, 139–145.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  21. National Cancer Institute. (2014). Usual dietary intakes: Food intakes, US population, 2007–10. Applied Research Program Website. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from http://appliedresearch.cancer.gov/diet/usualintakes/pop/2007-10/. Updated May 22, 2014. Accessed November 7, 2014.

  22. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. (2012). Nutrient intakes from food: Mean amounts consumed per individual, by race/ethnicity and age, what we eat in America, NHANES 2009–2010. Retrieved from http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12355000/pdf/0910/Table_2_NIN_RAC_09.pdf. Accessed July 7, 2014.

  23. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). (2007). Position of the American Dietetic Association: Total diet approach to communicating food and nutrition information. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107(7), 1224–1232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted as part of a larger five-year randomized controlled trial funded by the American Cancer Society (ACS) (Grant RSGT 09-012-01-CPPB) conducted in collaboration with Columbia University’s Teachers College, the Columbia University Medical Center and the 1199SEIU Benefit and Pension Funds.

Author information

Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles E. Basch.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zaharek-Girgasky, M.M., Wolf, R.L., Zybert, P. et al. Diet-Related Colorectal Cancer Prevention Beliefs and Dietary Intakes in an Urban Minority Population. J Community Health 40, 680–685 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9984-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9984-x

Keywords

  • Colorectal cancer
  • Minority
  • Diet
  • Beliefs
  • Immigrant