Abstract
Purpose
Prior cancer research is limited by inconsistencies in defining rurality. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of cancer risk factors and cancer screening behaviors across various county-based rural classification codes, including measures reflecting a continuum, to inform our understanding of cancer disparities according to the extent of rurality.
Methods
Using an ecological cross-sectional design, we examined differences in cancer risk factors and cancer screening behaviors from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and National Health Interview Survey (2008–2013) across rural counties and between rural and urban counties using four rural–urban classification codes for counties and county-equivalents in 2013: U.S. Office of Management and Budget, National Center for Health Statistics, USDA Economic Research Service’s rural–urban continuum codes, and Urban Influence Codes.
Results
Although a rural-to-urban gradient was not consistently evident across all classification codes, the prevalence of smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and binge alcohol use increased (all ptrend < 0.03), while colorectal, cervical and breast cancer screening decreased (all ptrend < 0.001) with increasing rurality. Differences in the prevalence of risk factors and screening behaviors across rural areas were greater than differences between rural and urban counties for obesity (2.4% vs. 1.5%), physical activity (2.9% vs. 2.5%), binge alcohol use (3.4% vs. 0.4%), cervical cancer screening (6.8% vs. 4.0%), and colorectal cancer screening (4.4% vs. 3.8%).
Conclusions
Rural cancer disparities persist across multiple rural–urban classification codes, with marked variation in cancer risk factors and screening evident within rural regions. Focusing only on a rural–urban dichotomy may not sufficiently capture subpopulations of rural residents at greater risk for cancer and cancer-related mortality.
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Data availability
The datasets analyzed during the current study are available in the State Cancer Profiles website, https://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/
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Acknowledgements
The authors assume full responsibility for analyses and interpretation of these data. Dr. Nemeth is funded by National Cancer Institute career development grant 1K07CA216321-01A1.
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No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript. Dr. Nemeth is funded by NCI career development grant 1K07CA216321-01A1.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by Kelly A. Hirko. Data analyses were performed by Huiwen Xu. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Kelly A. Hirko and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript and assume full responsibility for analyses and interpretation of these data.
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This is an observational descriptive study using publicly available county-level data. The Michigan State University Institutional Review Board has confirmed that no ethical approval is required.
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Hirko, K.A., Xu, H., Rogers, L.Q. et al. Cancer disparities in the context of rurality: risk factors and screening across various U.S. rural classification codes. Cancer Causes Control 33, 1095–1105 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-022-01599-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-022-01599-2