Social psychological correlates of paying attention to cancer symptoms and seeking medical help

Social psychological correlates of two main aspects of the process of cancer detection, viz. passive detection (i.e., paying attention to cancer symptoms) and help-seeking intention, were studied among a-symptomatic Dutch adults. Two written questionnaires, with a six-week interval, identified correlates of both variables, using a determinant model based on the theory of planned behavior. Knowledge, advantages, self-efficacy, being female and being more highly educated were associated with passive detection. Knowledge, advantages, moral obligation, anticipated regret, social norm, and self-efficacy were correlated with the intention to seek help. We suggest that educational programs need to address the two variables separately and also need to tailor their content to the various social psychological correlates of these two aspects. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.