Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic involved business closures (e.g., gyms), social distancing policies, and prolonged stressful situations that may have impacted engagement in health behaviors. Our study assessed changes in cancer-related health behaviors during the pandemic, specifically phy...

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Main Authors: Breanna B. Greteman, Allison Cole, Mary E. Charlton, Jackilen Shannon, Deanna Kepka, Electra D. Paskett, Evelinn A. Borrayo, Jamie L. Studts, Hayley S. Thompson, Isabel Scarinci, Lynn Chollet Hinton, Elizabeth A. Chrischilles, Crystal J. Garcia-Auguste, Kaila Christini, Heather Aker, Jesse J. Plascak, Felicity W. K. Harper, Monica L. Baskin, Sejong Bae, Vishruti Pandya, Young-il Kim, Babalola Faseru, Christie Befort, Hanluen Kuo, Mark Dignan, Juan Canedo, Victoria Champion, Bettina F. Drake, Kia L. Davis, Debra L. Friedman, Mohamed I. Elsaid, Scherezade K. Mama, Wendy F. Cohn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-13373-5
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author Breanna B. Greteman
Allison Cole
Mary E. Charlton
Jackilen Shannon
Deanna Kepka
Electra D. Paskett
Evelinn A. Borrayo
Jamie L. Studts
Hayley S. Thompson
Isabel Scarinci
Lynn Chollet Hinton
Elizabeth A. Chrischilles
Crystal J. Garcia-Auguste
Kaila Christini
Heather Aker
Jesse J. Plascak
Felicity W. K. Harper
Monica L. Baskin
Sejong Bae
Vishruti Pandya
Young-il Kim
Babalola Faseru
Christie Befort
Hanluen Kuo
Mark Dignan
Juan Canedo
Victoria Champion
Bettina F. Drake
Kia L. Davis
Debra L. Friedman
Mohamed I. Elsaid
Scherezade K. Mama
Wendy F. Cohn
author_facet Breanna B. Greteman
Allison Cole
Mary E. Charlton
Jackilen Shannon
Deanna Kepka
Electra D. Paskett
Evelinn A. Borrayo
Jamie L. Studts
Hayley S. Thompson
Isabel Scarinci
Lynn Chollet Hinton
Elizabeth A. Chrischilles
Crystal J. Garcia-Auguste
Kaila Christini
Heather Aker
Jesse J. Plascak
Felicity W. K. Harper
Monica L. Baskin
Sejong Bae
Vishruti Pandya
Young-il Kim
Babalola Faseru
Christie Befort
Hanluen Kuo
Mark Dignan
Juan Canedo
Victoria Champion
Bettina F. Drake
Kia L. Davis
Debra L. Friedman
Mohamed I. Elsaid
Scherezade K. Mama
Wendy F. Cohn
author_sort Breanna B. Greteman
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic involved business closures (e.g., gyms), social distancing policies, and prolonged stressful situations that may have impacted engagement in health behaviors. Our study assessed changes in cancer-related health behaviors during the pandemic, specifically physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake, smoking/tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. Methods Eight cancer centers administered mailed/web-based/telephone surveys between June 2020 and March 2021. Surveys assessed demographics, perceptions on social distancing, and self-reported changes of behaviors (less/same/more) associated with cancer prevention or risk, e.g., physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake, tobacco/smoking use, and alcohol consumption. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression models assessed association of variables with behavior change. Results Most of the 21,911 respondents reported adhering to at least 4(of 5) social distancing measures (72%) and indicated social distancing was very/somewhat important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (91%). 35% of respondents reported less physical activity, 11% reported less fruit/vegetable intake, 27% reported more smoking/tobacco use (among those who used tobacco/smoking products in past 30 days), and 23% reported more alcohol consumption (among those who reported at least 1 drink in past 30 days) than before the pandemic. Urban residence, younger age, female gender, and worse general health were associated with less physical activity, less fruit/vegetable intake, more smoking/tobacco use, and more alcohol intake. Higher educational attainment was associated with less physical activity and fruit/vegetable intake and more alcohol consumption. Reporting social distancing as important and adhering to more COVID-19 safety practices were associated with less physical activity and more alcohol consumption. Conclusion Our findings suggest that certain demographics and those who adhered to social distancing measures were more likely to self-report unfavorable changes in health behaviors during the pandemic. Future studies should examine if the behaviors returned to baseline following relief from pandemic restrictions, and if these behavior changes are associated with increased cancer incidence and mortality.
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spelling doaj-art-f9be5d5925f54ea380a53d9774c245e12025-01-12T12:27:48ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-01-0125111810.1186/s12885-024-13373-5Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the USBreanna B. Greteman0Allison Cole1Mary E. Charlton2Jackilen Shannon3Deanna Kepka4Electra D. Paskett5Evelinn A. Borrayo6Jamie L. Studts7Hayley S. Thompson8Isabel Scarinci9Lynn Chollet Hinton10Elizabeth A. Chrischilles11Crystal J. Garcia-Auguste12Kaila Christini13Heather Aker14Jesse J. Plascak15Felicity W. K. Harper16Monica L. Baskin17Sejong Bae18Vishruti Pandya19Young-il Kim20Babalola Faseru21Christie Befort22Hanluen Kuo23Mark Dignan24Juan Canedo25Victoria Champion26Bettina F. Drake27Kia L. Davis28Debra L. Friedman29Mohamed I. Elsaid30Scherezade K. Mama31Wendy F. Cohn32University of Iowa College of Public Health, Holden Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Washington School of MedicineUniversity of Iowa College of Public Health, Holden Comprehensive Cancer CenterOregon Health and Science University, Knight Cancer InstituteUniversity of Utah, Huntsman Cancer InstituteOhio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Cancer CenterUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Cancer CenterWayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer InstituteUniversity of Alabama Birmingham, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Iowa College of Public Health, Holden Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Iowa College of Public Health, Holden Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Utah, Huntsman Cancer InstituteOhio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterOhio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterWayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer InstituteUniversity of Alabama Birmingham, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Alabama Birmingham, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Alabama Birmingham, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Alabama Birmingham, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Kentucky, Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of Kentucky, Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of Indiana, Simon Cancer CenterWashington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer CenterWashington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer CenterVanderbilt-Ingram Cancer CenterOhio State University College of MedicineDepartment of Health Disparities Research, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer CenterUniversity of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer CenterAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic involved business closures (e.g., gyms), social distancing policies, and prolonged stressful situations that may have impacted engagement in health behaviors. Our study assessed changes in cancer-related health behaviors during the pandemic, specifically physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake, smoking/tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. Methods Eight cancer centers administered mailed/web-based/telephone surveys between June 2020 and March 2021. Surveys assessed demographics, perceptions on social distancing, and self-reported changes of behaviors (less/same/more) associated with cancer prevention or risk, e.g., physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake, tobacco/smoking use, and alcohol consumption. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression models assessed association of variables with behavior change. Results Most of the 21,911 respondents reported adhering to at least 4(of 5) social distancing measures (72%) and indicated social distancing was very/somewhat important to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (91%). 35% of respondents reported less physical activity, 11% reported less fruit/vegetable intake, 27% reported more smoking/tobacco use (among those who used tobacco/smoking products in past 30 days), and 23% reported more alcohol consumption (among those who reported at least 1 drink in past 30 days) than before the pandemic. Urban residence, younger age, female gender, and worse general health were associated with less physical activity, less fruit/vegetable intake, more smoking/tobacco use, and more alcohol intake. Higher educational attainment was associated with less physical activity and fruit/vegetable intake and more alcohol consumption. Reporting social distancing as important and adhering to more COVID-19 safety practices were associated with less physical activity and more alcohol consumption. Conclusion Our findings suggest that certain demographics and those who adhered to social distancing measures were more likely to self-report unfavorable changes in health behaviors during the pandemic. Future studies should examine if the behaviors returned to baseline following relief from pandemic restrictions, and if these behavior changes are associated with increased cancer incidence and mortality.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-13373-5COVID-19CancerHealthPreventionBehaviors
spellingShingle Breanna B. Greteman
Allison Cole
Mary E. Charlton
Jackilen Shannon
Deanna Kepka
Electra D. Paskett
Evelinn A. Borrayo
Jamie L. Studts
Hayley S. Thompson
Isabel Scarinci
Lynn Chollet Hinton
Elizabeth A. Chrischilles
Crystal J. Garcia-Auguste
Kaila Christini
Heather Aker
Jesse J. Plascak
Felicity W. K. Harper
Monica L. Baskin
Sejong Bae
Vishruti Pandya
Young-il Kim
Babalola Faseru
Christie Befort
Hanluen Kuo
Mark Dignan
Juan Canedo
Victoria Champion
Bettina F. Drake
Kia L. Davis
Debra L. Friedman
Mohamed I. Elsaid
Scherezade K. Mama
Wendy F. Cohn
Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US
BMC Cancer
COVID-19
Cancer
Health
Prevention
Behaviors
title Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US
title_full Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US
title_fullStr Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US
title_full_unstemmed Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US
title_short Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US
title_sort cancer related health behaviors during the covid 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the us
topic COVID-19
Cancer
Health
Prevention
Behaviors
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-13373-5
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