Lois Lamerato

Henry Ford Health System

PLCO (Learn more about this study)

2007-0040

Jun 12, 2007

Effect of Baseline Comorbidities on Cancer Screening Trial Adherence among Older African American Men

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of baseline health factors on screening adherence in a sample of older (ages 55+ years) African American men enrolled in a case management intervention in a cancer screening trial. A longitudinal design was used. Seven hundred and three African American men were randomly assigned to a case management intervention group (n=352) or to a case management control group (n=351). The effects of co-morbidities on the screening adherence rates of each group were then assessed. Results: Overall, regardless of group assignment, participants with co-morbidities were no less likely to adhere to trial screening than participants without co-morbidities. Exceptions were current smokers, participants with bronchitis, and those with arthritis. Intervention group participants who were current smokers were marginally less likely (56.0%) than others to adhere to the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer screening (p=0.052). Intervention group participants who reported having chronic bronchitis had a much lower chest x-ray screening (for lung cancer) adherence rate (28.6%) than participants in the other three groups (p=0.045). Control group participants who reported having arthritis had the lowest adherence rate to flexible sigmoidoscopy for colorectal cancer screening, 40.5%, compared to the other three groups (p=0.022). No other findings reached statistical significance. Implications: Co-morbidities had little or no effect on trial adherence. Older adults with co-morbidities appear to be excellent candidates for participation in longitudinal cancer screening trials, as they are generally as likely as other people to adhere to trial screenings.