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CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 17, 76-79, Copyright © 1967 by American Cancer Society

Why People Do or Do Not Have Cancer Checkups

The findings of this study, in general, indicate that lack of perceived need for checkups is one of the key reasons why some people do not go for checkups. Some are anxious about checkups and some are afraid of what they might find out, but by and large, nongoers do not think about checkups one way or another. They consider themselves healthy and without symptoms, consequently they have no particular need for checkups.

The reasons for nongoers' lack of perceived need for checkups range from a basic apathy toward preventive medicine, less personal contact with cancer, insufficient awareness of the prevalence of cancer and the potential for recovering from cancer, to the belief that doctors are not particularly in favor of checkups. In addition, nongoers are restrained from going for checkups by a failure to appreciate the "rewards" aspect, and by some negative imagery about the kinds of people who go for checkups.

In trying to persuade nongoers that going for checkups is important, it is necessary to communicate with them in terms which are meaningful to them. Nongoers reject goers' perceptions of people who do not go for checkups. Goers may see nongoers as foolish, irrational and irresponsible. Nongoers, however, view their own behavior as quite rational.

Under these circumstances, it is not enough simply to remind people or urge people to go for checkups. Strong "reasons why" need to be built into any campaigns or programs designed for this purpose.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Antonovsky and H. Hartman Delay in the Detection of Cancer: A Review of the Literature Health Educ Behav, January 1, 1974; 2(2): 98 - 128. [PDF]