Date of Conferral

9-24-2026

Date of Award

September 2026

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Edward Irobi

Abstract

Routine preventive care supports early identification and management of health conditions among adults at high risk for pancreatic cancer. Evidence is limited regarding socioeconomic and health care access factors associated with engagement in routine preventive care among Florida adults aged 65 years and older at high risk for pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional correlational study was to examine these associations among this population. The health belief model served as the theoretical framework. Secondary data from the 2022 Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed for N = 4,032 participants using two multivariable binary logistic regression models while controlling for demographic covariates. Insured participants had significantly higher odds of engaging in routine preventive care than uninsured participants (OR = 13.58, 95% CI [5.56, 33.17], p < .001). Those with personal health care providers had significantly higher odds of engagement (OR = 15.06, 95% CI [10.30, 22.01], p < .001), whereas those experiencing cost-related barriers to care had significantly lower odds of engagement (OR = 0.37, 95% CI [0.21, 0.65], p < .001), suggesting a strong association between health care access and preventive care engagement. Income, education level, sex, race, ethnicity, and residential location were not statistically significantly associated with preventive care engagement after adjustment. Age remained statistically significantly associated in both models (Wald χ² = 20.88, p < .001; Wald χ² = 28.64, p < .001). Findings have implications for positive social change by informing public health practice and policy through strategies that address insurance coverage, strengthen continuity of care, and reduce cost-related barriers to care.

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