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. 2014 Dec;19(12):1518-24.
doi: 10.1177/1359105313494924. Epub 2013 Jul 17.

Perceptions of cancer as a death sentence: prevalence and consequences

Richard P Moser  1 , Jamie Arndt  2 , Paul K Han  3 , Erika A Waters  4 , Marni Amsellem  5 , Bradford W Hesse  6
Affiliations

Perceptions of cancer as a death sentence: prevalence and consequences

Richard P Moser et al. J Health Psychol. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Research suggests that perceiving cancer as a death sentence is a critical determinant of health care-seeking behaviors. However, there is limited information regarding the prevalence of this perception in the US population. Cross-sectional analysis of data (n = 7674 adults) from the 2007-2008 administration of the nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 3) was performed. A majority (61.6%) of respondents perceived cancer as death sentence, and more than one-third (36%) of respondents reported that they avoid seeing their physicians. In the adult US population, perceiving cancer as a death sentence is common and is associated with education level and avoidance of physicians.

Keywords: cancer; health behavior; health psychology; perception; public health psychology.

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