Differences in lifestyle behaviors, quality of life, and access to healthcare among rural and urban cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: Rural cancer survivors in the United States, compared to urban survivors, face greater cancer mortality and poorer health. To better understand cancer health disparities, this study examined differences in lifestyle behaviors, healthcare access, and psychological distress between rural and urban survivors.Methods: Rural (n = 188) and urban (n = 242) survivors from a cancer center’s catchment area in the United States mid-Atlantic region completed a survey. Regression models were used to examine the association between rural-urban residency, lifestyle behaviors, healthcare access, and psychological distress, controlling for covariates.Results: After adjusting for age, gender, race, education, and distance (in minutes) to the closest healthcare facility, rural survivors remained more likely to have obesity (OR = 1.95, p = .005), less likely to consume alcohol (OR = 0.48, p = .002), and more likely to find it somewhat hard to get to a hospital (OR = 2.52, p < .001). There were no differences between the groups in fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, sleep health, or perceived distress.Conclusions: Rural cancer survivors were more likely to have obesity, less likely to be alcohol drinkers, and encounter greater difficulties obtaining healthcare services.

Keywords

• Cancer survivors
• urban-rural disparities
• lifestyle behaviors
• healthcare access
• psychological distress