Cancer screening and prevention practices of inner-city physicians

Introduction: Effective preventive services are needed most in underserved, inner-city settings that suffer disproportionately from morbidity and mort ality, Primary care physicians can play an important role in the provision of efficacious cancer prevention and screening services to patients in thes e communities. Method: We surveyed 122 primary care physicians about their cancer preventi on and screening knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results: Relative to the findings from national and local surveys, sample p hysicians were not as knowledgeable about national guidelines for preventiv e care, were less likely to counsel on smoking cessation, and were less lik ely to advise diet modification. Although physician practices reflected nat ional cancer prevention and screening guidelines in general, a significant proportion of physicians suggested lung and prostate cancer screening tests that were inconsistent with national recommendations. Conclusions: Systematic efforts are needed to increase the knowledge and pr actices of inner-city physicians concerning cancer prevention and screening . (C) 2000 American Journal of Preventive Medicine.