Abstract B107: Cervical cancer screening behaviors and perceptions of medical mistrust among rural Black and White women

Background: This study examined the relationship of medical mistrust, using the Group-based Medical Mistrust Scale (GBMMS), and Papanicolaou (Pap) testing behaviors among rural Black and White women.

Methods: Utilizing a convenience sample, a cross-sectional study was performed. Inclusion criteria included self-identification as a non-Hispanic Black or White female, at least 21 years of age and a resident of one of the predetermined counties in the region. Analyses conducted were two-sample t-tests, Fisher's exact tests, Pearson's r and logistical regression.

Results: Among 338 women, four GBMMS items had statistically significant outcomes using multiple significance tests and remained when adjusting for demographic variables. Analyses indicated that Whites were dissatisfied with the health care system to a greater extent than Blacks. In addition, among White respondents, as the level of medical mistrust increases, an individual's likelihood of ever having had a Pap test performed decreases. Moreover, among the White subgroup, women who have formed a habit of adhering to the recommendation were more likely to maintain annual commitment.

Conclusions: The impact of medical mistrust on health care-seeking behaviors should be explored beyond merely members of racial/ethnic minority groups. The findings will be used to create a community-informed, multilevel cervical cancer screening intervention to foster healthful behaviors among racially diverse rural populations. This approach has the potential to reduce prevalent disparities among rural residents when compared to urban areas of the state.

Citation Format: Marla B. Hall, Paul Vos, Jukelia Bess, Kelly Reburn, Gavin Locklear, Jamila McAlister, Ronny Bell. Cervical cancer screening behaviors and perceptions of medical mistrust among rural Black and White women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr B107.