Faculty Mentor

Asli Aslan

Faculty Mentor Email Address

aaslan@georgiasouthern.edu

Understanding Health Beliefs and Environmental Risk Among Rural Private Well Users

Location

Savannah Ballroom

Type of Research

Completed

Session Format

Poster Presentation

Select Your Campus

Armstrong Campus

College

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Department

Community and Health Policy

Abstract

Cancer is a leading cause of death in Georgia, responsible for one in five deaths statewide, with greater burden in rural counties where many residents rely on private wells for drinking water. These wells are unregulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and may contain contaminants such as radon, lead, nitrate, and arsenic that are linked to cancer risk. Guided by the Champion Health Belief Model (CHBM), this study examined psychosocial and environmental factors influencing cancer screening intent among rural private well owners. The 11-week quasi-experimental study included 60 participants in southeast Georgia assigned to an education-plus-testing group (n=30) or a testing-only group (n=30). Pre- and post-surveys assessed CHBM constructs, water knowledge, and screening intent, with predictors evaluated using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. At baseline, perceived susceptibility was the only significant predictor in both groups (AOR=3.46, p=.035; AOR=6.72, p=.049). After education, psychosocial predictors shifted but none reached significance (p>.05). Following well testing in Group 1, perceived barriers became the strongest predictor, with fewer barriers increasing intent 4.5 times (AOR=4.46, p=.036). In Group 2, belief in screening benefits increased intent by 23% (AOR=0.77, p=.011). Understanding water status increased intent 5.7 times (AOR=5.67, p=.001), and contaminant presence increased intent fivefold (AOR=5.00, p=.033). Radon-positive wells over 300 pCi/L were associated with 4.8 times higher intent (AOR=4.76, p=.010). These findings indicate that risk communication is most effective when paired with personalized exposure data, supporting integration of education with private well testing to promote preventive cancer screening.

Program Description

.

Author Rights: Apply an Embargo

2-18-2026

Presentation Type and Release Option

Event

Start Date

4-21-2026 10:00 AM

End Date

4-21-2026 12:00 PM

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Apr 21st, 10:00 AM Apr 21st, 12:00 PM

Understanding Health Beliefs and Environmental Risk Among Rural Private Well Users

Savannah Ballroom

Cancer is a leading cause of death in Georgia, responsible for one in five deaths statewide, with greater burden in rural counties where many residents rely on private wells for drinking water. These wells are unregulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and may contain contaminants such as radon, lead, nitrate, and arsenic that are linked to cancer risk. Guided by the Champion Health Belief Model (CHBM), this study examined psychosocial and environmental factors influencing cancer screening intent among rural private well owners. The 11-week quasi-experimental study included 60 participants in southeast Georgia assigned to an education-plus-testing group (n=30) or a testing-only group (n=30). Pre- and post-surveys assessed CHBM constructs, water knowledge, and screening intent, with predictors evaluated using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. At baseline, perceived susceptibility was the only significant predictor in both groups (AOR=3.46, p=.035; AOR=6.72, p=.049). After education, psychosocial predictors shifted but none reached significance (p>.05). Following well testing in Group 1, perceived barriers became the strongest predictor, with fewer barriers increasing intent 4.5 times (AOR=4.46, p=.036). In Group 2, belief in screening benefits increased intent by 23% (AOR=0.77, p=.011). Understanding water status increased intent 5.7 times (AOR=5.67, p=.001), and contaminant presence increased intent fivefold (AOR=5.00, p=.033). Radon-positive wells over 300 pCi/L were associated with 4.8 times higher intent (AOR=4.76, p=.010). These findings indicate that risk communication is most effective when paired with personalized exposure data, supporting integration of education with private well testing to promote preventive cancer screening.