Why Don’t People Heed Risk Warnings From Science?

Extract

Years of research have produced several specific recommendations to reduce the risk of cancer, such as eating a balanced diet and avoiding excessive sun exposure in the summertime. But many people still fail to take steps that could prevent cancer or catch it early, and researchers are now beginning to understand why.

Some of the most prevalent barriers are low income and lack of education about cancer prevention. Many people are also embarrassed about taking screening tests. Whether health providers advise their patients about preventive health behaviors or recommend cancer screenings also has a great impact, according to recent studies. And it helps if advice about preventing cancer is understandable to the patient and easily achieved.

“There is [a lot] of evidence that tells us that if a doctor suggests a concrete behavior to a patient, and it’s not too difficult, it does make a big difference,” said Neil Weinstein, Ph.D., a researcher in risk perceptions, professor at Rutgers University, and visiting scholar at the National Cancer Institute. “But sometimes the advice that consumers get, especially about diet, is frustrating for them because it’s hard to follow,” he said. Many consumers, especially smokers, may also deny that their behavior is dangerous, unless they receive risk information that’s personalized to their individual lifestyle.