Perceptions of Cancer As a Death Sentence: Prevalence and Consequences

Overview

Journal J Health Psychol

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Psychology

Date 2013 Jul 19

PMID 23864071

Citations 46

Authors

Richard P Moser

Jamie Arndt

Paul K Han

Erika A Waters

Marni Amsellem

Bradford W Hesse

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Research suggests that perceiving cancer as a death sentence is a critical determinant of health care-seeking behaviors. However, there is limited information regarding the prevalence of this perception in the US population. Cross-sectional analysis of data (n = 7674 adults) from the 2007-2008 administration of the nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 3) was performed. A majority (61.6%) of respondents perceived cancer as death sentence, and more than one-third (36%) of respondents reported that they avoid seeing their physicians. In the adult US population, perceiving cancer as a death sentence is common and is associated with education level and avoidance of physicians.

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