Head and Neck Cancer Screening Events Are a Mixed Bag,in Response to: “Follow-Up Phone Interviews and Attendance Motivation From A Free Head and Neck Cancer Screening”

Abstract

We read with great interest, “Follow-Up Phone Interviews and Attendance Motivation From A Free Head and Neck Cancer Screening.” Having recently hosted a community head and neck cancer screening event and shared these findings with the otolaryngology community, we greatly appreciate this most recent contribution to the ongoing discussion. Identifying the motivational factors for being screened is a valuable addition to the literature, as these are important considerations for institutions seeking to hold their own head and neck cancer screening events.

We read with great interest, “Follow-Up Phone Interviews and Attendance Motivation From A Free Head and Neck Cancer Screening.” ¹ Having recently hosted a community head and neck cancer screening event and shared these findings with the otolaryngology community, ² we greatly appreciate this most recent contribution to the ongoing discussion. Identifying the motivational factors for being screened ¹ is a valuable addition to the literature, as these are important considerations for institutions seeking to hold their own head and neck cancer screening events.

We were struck by the differences in patterns of demographics between this institution’s event and our own, which highlight the heterogeneity of head and neck cancer screenings events around the nation. Urdang et al reported their participants were 76% Caucasian, 8% Asian, 6% Hispanic, and 3% African American. This was similar to some other reports.^3,4 In our experience, however, 40% of participants self-reported as Black, 20% White, 16% Hispanic, and 10% Asian. ² Another event reported their participants were 92% White, 4% Black, and 2% Hispanic. ⁵ Some reports did not publish such demographic data, ⁶ which we feel is valuable information to contextualize findings.

Current tobacco use is a major risk factor for head and neck cancer, ⁷ and therefore has major implications in a population being screened for head and neck cancer. Interestingly, studies of head and neck cancer screening events and programs have reported widely variant prevalence of “current tobacco use” among their screened populations. Urdang et al reported 11%, ¹ while others reported 75% ⁴ , 42%, ⁵ 29%, ⁶ 24%, ³ and 8%. ²

Having a primary care physician (PCP) may also be implicated in patients’ desire to seek out screening events, yet screened populations have varied in prevalence of having a PCP. Urdang et al reported 68% having a PCP, ¹ while others reported as high as 86% ³ or as low as 39%. ²

Self-identified race/ethnicity, current tobacco use, and PCP status vary significantly between patient populations. We encourage other event-holders to consider, identify, and report these factors, as they may have implications in the applicability and utility of these important events. Screening events or programs which focus on higher risk populations and geographies^4,5 may be of higher utility.