Health Education Needs: A Survey of Rural Adults in Butler County, Pennsylvania, 1975. An Interim Report. Rural Health Staff Papers - Paper Number 7.

In July and August 1975, 17 men and 63 women living in rural areas in Butler County, Pennsylvania were interviewed as to their behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes related to preventing cancer and coronary heart disease. Respondents represented about 12% of all adults living on commercial farms and 5% of all rural nonfarm adults in the county. A commercial farm was one that "either sold $10,000 or more produce per year or the operator worked more than half time on the farm". During the interview, each respondent was asked 167 questions pertaining to: the seriousness and susceptibility of the disease, early detection, their knowledge about the disease, high blood pressure, dietary and weight control practices, and medical services. Each person rated eight selected diseases as to their seriousness and susceptibility. Findings included: cancer, heart disease, glaucoma, and emphysema were perceived to be serious, with cancer being the most serious; 27% felt they were likely to have heart disease; 30% believed themselves likely to have cancer; 3 out of 10 persons could name either 1 or none of the 7 cancer signs; 1/3 of the farm men and women reported never or only occasionally consciously observing dietary rules; and 92% indicated a willingness to consider treatment by allied health personnel. (NQ)