Browsing by Author "Olofinkua, Oluwakemi Blessing"

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    Exploring Gender Differences in Colon Cancer Screening Knowledge and Health Beliefs among African Americans
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2013-04-05) Olofinkua, Oluwakemi Blessing; Rawl, Susan M.
    African Americans are diagnosed with and die at higher rates from colorectal cancer (CRC) than any ethnic groups in the United States. Culturally appropriate, effective interventions are urgently needed to reduce these cancer disparities by increasing participation in CRC screening. Both men and women are at risk for CRC, but may have different perceptions of their personal risk for CRC, knowledge, and health beliefs about screening. The purpose of the study was to examine gender differences among 817 African American primary care patients who are overdue for CRC screening. A framework based on the Health Belief Model and the Transtheoretical Model was developed specifically for this study. Baseline data were analyzed from a randomized clinical trial comparing two interventions to promote screening. African American primary care patients (n=817) who were due for screening were recruited from 11 clinics. Telephone interviewers collected baseline data on demographic characteristics, CRC knowledge, CRC health beliefs (perceived risk, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy). Comparisons between male and female participants were conducted using t-tests and chi-square. Significant differences were found between men and women on several health beliefs about CRC screening. Compared to women, men had higher perceived CRC risk scores (p=.001), higher colonoscopy benefits scores (p=.012), higher colonoscopy self-efficacy scores (p= .005), and higher FOBT self-efficacy scores (p=.000). Women had significantly higher colonoscopy barriers scores (p=.005) than men. No differences were observed between men and women on CRC knowledge scores (p=.829), FOBT benefits scores (p=.783), and FOBT barriers scores (p=.679). Results indicate there are differences between African American men and women in relation to specific CRC screening health beliefs. Knowledge of CRC screening is equally low for both groups. Health care providers should take note of this when providing recommendations for screening. In addition, these results can inform the development of effective strategies for tailoring interventions to increase CRC screening.
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    Primary Care Patients Who Complete Colonoscopy after Referral and Those Who Do Not: Are they Different?
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2014-04-11) Olofinkua, Oluwakemi Blessing; Rawl, Susan M.; Habermann, Barbara; Christy, Shannon M.; Perkins, Susan; Tong, Yan; Gebregziabher, Netsanet; Mabis, Michelle; Krier, Connie; Mirchandani, Amit; Fatima, Hala
    Up to 50% of people in one safety net hospital in the Midwest who received a recommendation for colonoscopy from their healthcare provider failed to complete the test. Research is needed to understand the complex interplay between individual, social, and health care systems and their influence on colonoscopy completion. The purpose of this study was to compare people who completed colonoscopy after receiving a referral with those who did not on demographic and clinical characteristics, CRC knowledge, and health beliefs (perceived risk, perceived benefits, perceived barriers). Quantitative data were collected via telephone interviews from 90 patients; 46 who completed colonoscopy and 44 non-completers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 42 participants to examine perceptions of barriers and facilitators to test completion. Data were analyzed using two-sample t-tests, chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests and content analysis. People who completed colonoscopy had a higher mean CRC knowledge score (p=.0008), and a smaller proportion had hypertension (p=.03). No group differences in perceived risk (p=0.81), perceived benefits (p=0.66), and perceived barriers scores (p=0.24) were observed. Non-completers frequently reported that life events interfered with their ability to keep their appointments. While receipt of a provider recommendation is the most important predictor of CRC screening, results showed that receipt of a recommendation with immediate referral to an endoscopist and automatic colonoscopy appointment-making were not sufficient to insure test completion. Education and tailored counseling about the need for and benefits of colonoscopy, along with reminders and tangible assistance to complete the test in the context of competing demands, may be required to increase completion rates.