Behavioral Research in Cancer Prevention and Control: A Look to the Future

Human behavior is central to the etiology and management of cancer outcomes and presents several avenues for targeted and sustained intervention. Psychosocial experiences such as stress and health behaviors including tobacco use, sun exposure, poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle increase the risk o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of preventive medicine 2014-03, Vol.46 (3), p.303-311
Main Authors: KLEIN, William M. P, BLOCH, Michele, HESSE, Bradford W, MCDONALD, Paige G, NEBELING, Linda, O'CONNELL, Mary E, RILEY, William T, TAPLIN, Stephen H, TESAURO, Gina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aetiology
Behavioral Research - organization & administration
Behavioral Research - trends
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
Clinical trials
Delivery of Health Care - organization & administration
Diet
Health Behavior
Humans
Life Style
Mass Screening - methods
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects)
Neoplasms - diagnosis
Neoplasms - etiology
Neoplasms - prevention & control
Prevention
Prevention and actions
Psychosocial intervention
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Survivors
Tumors
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Summary:Human behavior is central to the etiology and management of cancer outcomes and presents several avenues for targeted and sustained intervention. Psychosocial experiences such as stress and health behaviors including tobacco use, sun exposure, poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle increase the risk of some cancers yet are often quite resistant to change. Cancer screening and other health services are misunderstood and over-utilized, and vaccination underutilized, in part because of the avalanche of information about cancer prevention. Coordination of cancer care is suboptimal, and only a small fraction of cancer patients enroll in clinical trials essential to the development of new cancer treatments. A growing population of cancer survivors has necessitated a fresh view of cancer as a chronic rather than acute disease. Fortunately, behavioral research can address a wide variety of key processes and outcomes across the cancer control continuum from prevention to end-of-life care. Here we consider effects at the biobehavioral and psychological, social and organizational, and environmental levels. We challenge the research community to address key behavioral targets across all levels of influence, while taking into account the many new methodological tools that can facilitate this important work.
ISSN:0749-3797
1873-2607
DOI:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.10.004