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Illness Representations of Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Worry, and Perceptions of Risk by Smoking Status

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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.

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Funding

This project has been funded in part with federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, under contract no. HHSN261200800001E. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the US Government.

Declaration of Interests

There are no competing interests to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Monitoring Research Program, SAIC, Inc. - Frederick, National Cancer Institute - Frederick, Frederick, MD, 21704, USA

    Lila J. Finney Rutten

  2. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Kelly D. Blake, Bradford W. Hesse & Erik M. Augustson

  3. US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA

    Sarah Evans

Authors
  1. Lila J. Finney Rutten
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  2. Kelly D. Blake
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  3. Bradford W. Hesse
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  4. Erik M. Augustson
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  5. Sarah Evans
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Correspondence to Lila J. Finney Rutten.

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Finney Rutten, L.J., Blake, K.D., Hesse, B.W. et al. Illness Representations of Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Worry, and Perceptions of Risk by Smoking Status. J Canc Educ 26, 747–753 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0247-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-011-0247-6

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