Religious Attendance and Cancer Screening Behavior

Abstract

Background: Cancer is one of the most important health problems worldwide. Preventive examinations proved to be effective in tackling that issue, but their degree of utilization is not adequate. Thus, research is making efforts to reveal its determinants. It has been shown that religion is associated with several health outcomes, so the aim of our study is to analyze the association between religious attendance and participation in cancer prevention. Methods: Data are derived from the fifth wave of the German Aging Survey (DEAS), a nationally representative, prospective cohort study. Participants are community-dwelling Germans aged 40 years and older. Our main independent variable is the frequency of attendance in religious services, and the dependent variable is participation in cancer screening. As covariates, we include factors from all the dimensions of the Andersen behavioral health services utilization model. Multiple logistic regressions were used. In our sensitivity analysis, logistic regressions were performed stratified by religious group (Roman Catholic church, Protestant church, not belonging to any religious group). Results: Our model shows that attendance in religious services once a week, one to three times a month, several times a year, or less often is significantly associated with an increased likelihood of participating in preventive cancer screening, more than never participating in religious services. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis reveals that all these associations remain significant for the Catholic subsample, but not for the Protestant or the non-religious group. Discussion: This study finds a link between a higher frequency of attendance in religious services and an increased likelihood of participating in cancer screenings. This is important to address individuals at risk for underuse of cancer screenings.

Religious Denomination, Religiosity, Religious Attendance, and Cancer Prevention. A Systematic Review

“…: no) - 50 Religious attendance Mammogram or clinical breast examination Pap smear Self-breast examination Cervical screening Cholesterol screening Prostate screening Colonoscopy Fecal Occult Blood Test or endoscopy Any kind of screening Religious attendance (ref. : never) ++++ 26 , 29 , 49 , 60 0000 47 , 48 , 51 , 58 ++ 26 , 29 0 49 ++ 26 , 29 ++ 23 , 44 0 45 + 51 0 45 + 49 + 28 Religious activities (ref. : sometimes) 0 44 Congregational support (ref.…”

“…One half of the articles employed a cross-sectional design (n=6), the other one a longitudinal approach (n=6). The frequency of religious attendance was measured on two-point scales (dichotomously) (n=4 44 , 47 , 51 , 60 ), three-point scales (n=2 45 , 48 ), four-point scales (n=3 29 , 49 , 58 ), and five-point scales (n=3 23 , 26 , 28 ). In sum, n=1 study investigated the frequency of participating in activities organized by one’s church, rated on a three-point scale, 44 another one the role of congregational support, rated on a four-point scale, 45 and a last one asked whether an individual was active in its church community, apart from just visiting worships (dichotomous).…”

“… 47 The same article also looked at the existence of a church health committee (dichotomous), and whether breast cancer was an important topic for such an institution (dichotomous). 47 Concerning cancer screenings, the studies explored the utilization of mammograms or clinical breast examinations (n=8) (during the last year: n=1, 48 during the last two years: n=5, 26 , 49 , 51 , 58 , 60 during the last two years and also the two years before: n=1, 47 ever: n=1 29 ), cholesterol screenings (n=3) (during the last two years: n=3 23 , 44 , 45 ), pap smears (n=3) (during the last two years: n=1, 26 during the last three years: n=1, 49 ever: n=1 29 ), self-breast examinations (n=2) (during the last two years: n=1, 26 ever: n=1 29 ), colonoscopy (n=1) (ever: n=1 45 ), prostate screening (n=1) (during the last two years: n=1 51 ), either a Fecal Occult Blood Test during the last year or an endoscopy during the last five years (n=1), 49 and any cancer screening (n=1) (during the last years: n=1 28 ).…”

Religion and cancer prevention: study protocol for a systematic review

“…For example, religious attendance is positively related with conscientiousness 26 which is in turn positively related to participation in cancer screenings. 27 On the other hand, some studies do not reveal a significant association for outstandingly religious people, 21 who tend to have some fatalistic beliefs about health issues and, therefore, do not perceive a high impact of traditional medical procedures. 28 All in all, it seems that religion could be both beneficial and inhibitive to healthcare use, so that investigations concerning this matter need to consider other factors, such as its intensity, as well: a higher importance of religion in one's life is related to factors which were shown to increase the use of health services, such as social support, the sensitivity towards one's own body and healthy behaviours but could also lead to a decreasing belief in the usefulness of traditional medicine.…”

“…36 We expect different aspects of religion to be represented among the evidence found on its association to cancer screenings, such as its intensity 15 or religious attendance. 21 Both these variables may enhance screening use due to the pathways which we described above.…”