Occupation as Predictor of Cancer Screenings Among Georgia Workers, 2012–2015

Antionette Lavender (Presenter)
Georgia Department of Public Health

Alissa Berzen, Georgia Department of Public Health
A. Bayakly, Georgia Department of Public Health

Public Health Statement: There is published research regarding cancer screening behavior as it relates to age, race/ethnicity, education, income, and insurance coverage; however, little is known about screening behavior as it relates to employment and occupation.

Purpose: To assess occupation as a predictor of receiving cancer screenings

Methods/Approach: Using data from the 2012–2015 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we calculated the proportion of employed adults receiving appropriate breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings by occupation. Associations between receiving cancer screenings and occupation were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for demographic and healthcare access-related characteristics.

Results: Women aged 50–74 years working in service-related occupations (69.7%) were significantly less likely to report mammogram screenings within the past 2 years compared to employed women overall (79.4%). Women aged 21–65 years in management/business/financial occupations (91.8%) were significantly more likely to report having a Pap test in the past 3 years compared to all employed women (86.0%). After adjusting for race/ethnicity, age, education, having a personal doctor, and health coverage, women in transportation/material moving occupations had significantly lower odds (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.19 ‘ 0.90) of having a Pap test in the past three years than women working in management/business/financial occupations. Employed adults aged 50–75 years working in service (54.1%), construction/extraction (44.3%), and transportation/material moving (53.8%) occupations were less likely to receive recommended colorectal screenings than employed adults overall (63.4%).

Conclusions/Implications: This analysis can help Georgia target their evidence-based interventions by occupation. Population-based cancer control efforts can be enhanced through worksite wellness activities aimed at increasing cancer screening rates.