Health Education Needs: A Survey of Rural Adults in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, 1975. An Interim Report. Rural Health Staff Papers - Paper Number 6.

In June 1975, 53 men and 56 women living on commercial farms in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania were interviewed regarding their behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes related to preventing cancer and coronary heart disease. Respondents represented about 23% of all adults living on commercial farms in the county. A commercial farm was defined as one that either sold $10,000 or more produce per year or the operator worked more than half time on the farm. During a face-to-face interview setting, each respondent was asked 137 questions pertaining to: the seriousness and susceptibility of the disease, early detection, their knowledge about the disease, high blood pressure, overweight, and medical services. Each person rated eight selected diseases as to their seriousness and susceptibility. Findings included: 92% felt that cancer and heart disease were serious or extremely serious; of the 109 persons, only 1 disagreed that many types of cancer detected in the early stages could be cured; 1 person out of 3 could name either 1 or none of the 7 cancer signs; associated with the frequency of occurrence of heart disease were factors such as high blood pressure, overweight, and lack of regular physical exercise; 84% had had their blood pressure checked while visiting a doctor; and 1 out of 4 persons felt that dietary regulation was difficult. (NQ)