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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Corinne R. Leach, MS, Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of Kentucky, 900 S. Limestone Ave., 306 Wethington Health Sciences Bldg, Lexington, KY 40536-0200, 859-257-1450 x80273, corinne.leach@uky.edu

Despite tremendous improvements in the early detection of breast cancer and related long-term survival, certain groups of women, including older rural Appalachian women, continue to experience a disproportionate burden of disease. Health knowledge and attitudes, key determinants of such preventive health service use, have seldom been explored among older Appalachian women. Since many researchers suggest that older Appalachian women have not benefited from early detection interventions currently in place, this study aims to identify why they continue to underutilize cancer screenings. This grounded theory study examines how rural Appalachian women develop breast cancer knowledge and attitudes throughout their life course, and how the knowledge and attitudes affect their health behavior, such as whether or not they receive mammograms. Results suggest a meaningful extension and revision of the Health Belief Model, based on the life course perspective. Integration of these theories improves our ability to explain breast cancer belief development and early cancer detection behavior.

Learning Objectives: After viewing the poster and/or speaking with the researcher, the learner will be able to

• Describe recruitment strategies for an older, rural, female population in Appalachia
• Discuss the health and breast cancer beliefs among this population of women
• Discuss how experience across the life course impact screening behaviors among this population of women

Keywords: Cancer Screening, Rural Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered