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Predicting Scheduling and Attending for an Oral Cancer Examination

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Oral and pharyngeal cancer is highly treatable if diagnosed early, yet late diagnosis is commonplace apparently because of delays in undergoing an oral cancer examination.

Purpose

We explored predictors of scheduling and attending an oral cancer examination among a sample of Black and White men who were at high risk for oral cancer because they smoked.

Methods

During an in-person interview, participants (N = 315) from rural Florida learned about oral and pharyngeal cancer, completed survey measures, and were offered a free examination in the next week. Later, participants received a follow-up phone call to explore why they did or did not attend their examination.

Results

Consistent with the notion that scheduling and attending an oral cancer exam represent distinct decisions, we found that the two outcomes had different predictors. Defensive avoidance and exam efficacy predicted scheduling an examination; exam efficacy and having coping resources, time, and transportation predicted attending the examination. Open-ended responses revealed that the dominant reasons participants offered for missing a scheduled examination were conflicting obligations, forgetting, and confusion or misunderstanding about the examination.

Conclusions

The results suggest interventions to increase scheduling and attending an oral cancer examination.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (grant 1U54DE019261) and by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship awarded to Jennifer L. Howell under Grant No. DGE-0802270.

Authors’ Statement of Conflict of Interest and Adherence to Ethical Standards

Authors Shepperd, Emanuel, Howell, and Logan declare that they have no conflict of interest. All participants were treated according to the APA guidelines for treatment of human participants and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southeast Center for Research on Disparities in Oral Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    James A. Shepperd Ph.D., Amber S. Emanuel Ph.D., Jennifer L. Howell M.S. & Henrietta L. Logan Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Florida, PO Box 112250, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2250, USA

    James A. Shepperd Ph.D.

Authors
  1. James A. Shepperd Ph.D.
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  2. Amber S. Emanuel Ph.D.
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  3. Jennifer L. Howell M.S.
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  4. Henrietta L. Logan Ph.D.
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Correspondence to James A. Shepperd Ph.D..

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Shepperd, J.A., Emanuel, A.S., Howell, J.L. et al. Predicting Scheduling and Attending for an Oral Cancer Examination. ann. behav. med. 49, 828–838 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-015-9717-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-015-9717-0

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