Cancer Screening

Health Promotion: Early Detection of Disease and Disease Prevention

Disease prevention and early detection is an integral part of the discipline of Family Medicine and is well suited for study in the primary care setting. Research on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening focuses on addressing disparities in CRC screening. Qualitative methods have been used to explore awareness of cancer and screening within a multiethnic patient population. These findings have been utilized in the design of a quantitative study to estimate the prevalence of CRC screening within a clinic population. An ongoing study focuses on patient preferences for attributes associated with the four different CRC screening tests that are recommended for screening. 

Publications

Howrey BT, Kuo YF, Lin YL, Goodwin JS. The impact of PSA screening on prostate cancer mortality and over diagnosis of prostate cancer in the United States. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2012.

Shokar NK, Vernon SW, Carlson C. Validity of self-reported colorectal cancer test use in different racial/ethnic groups. Family Practice. 2011. 28(6): 683-688.

Shokar NK, Carlson CA, Weller SC. Informed Decision Making Changes Test Preferences for Colorectal Cancer Screening in a Diverse Population. Annals of Family Medicine. 2010, 8:141-50.

McQueen A, Bartholomew LK, Greisinger AJ, Medina GG, Hawley ST, Haidet P, Bettencourt JL, Shokar NK, Ling BS, & Vernon SW. Behind closed doors: Physician-patient discussions about colorectal cancer screening. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2009, 24(11), 1228-35.

Shokar NK, Nguyen-Oghalai T, Wu ZH. Factors Associated With a Physician's Recommendation for Colorectal Cancer Screening Within A Diverse Population. Family Medicine. 2009, 41(6):427-33. Pub Med# 19492190.

Abotchie, PN, Shokar, NK. Cervical Cancer Screening Among College Students in Ghana: Knowledge and Health Beliefs. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. 2009, 19(3):412-6.

Shokar, NK, Carlson, CA Weller, SC: Factors Associated with Racial/Ethnic Differences in Colorectal Cancer Screening. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 2008, 21:414-26.

Shokar, NK, Weller, SC, Carlson, CA. Prevalence of Colorectal Cancer Testing and Screening in a Multiethnic Primary Care Population. Journal of Community Health. 2007, 32(5):311-23.

Shokar NK, Carlson, CA, Shokar GS. Physician and Patient Influences on Colorectal Cancer Screening in a Primary Care Clinic. Journal of Cancer Education. 2006, 21:84-8.

 Shokar, NK; Vernon, SW, Weller, SC. Cancer and colorectal cancer: Knowledge, beliefs and screening preferences of a diverse population. Family Medicine. 2005, 37(5):341-7.

McCann SE, Ambrosone CB, Moysich KB, Brasure J, Marshall JR, Freudenheim JL, Wilkinson GS, Graham S. Intakes of selected nutrients, foods, and phytochemicals and prostate cancer risk in Western New York. Nutrition and Cancer. 2005, 53(1):33-41.

Funding:

Shokar, NK. Reducing Health Disparities by Eliminating Barriers to Screening and Care for Medicare Eligible Hispanics in Harris County. Subcontract with L Jones, MD Anderson Cancer Center. 09/09 – 02/10. $13,190.

DiMarco, J: Brain Tumors and Exposure to Low Dose Ionizing Radiation. American Cancer Society/Institutional Research Grant. 1/07 – 12/08. $60,000.

Shokar, NK: Career Development Award: Colorectal Cancer Screening in a Diverse Population. K07 NIH/NCI . 08/06 – 06/10. $507,000.

Shokar, NK: Career Development Program Award: Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health. A Berenson (PI) K12 NIH/NICHD and Office of Research in Women’s Health (ORWH). 1/06 – 07/06.   

Department of Family Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch
301 University Boulevard
Galveston, Texas 77555-1123
409.772.3126