Search

Population cancer awareness is of interest worldwide, as efforts are made to reduce cancer incidence via changes in risk and protective behaviours. To date, few studies have described changes in awareness over time, despite significant investment in raising awareness about various cancer types and risk behaviours. This paper describes the Cancer Awareness in Aotearoa New Zealand (CAANZ) survey, a cross-sectional telephone survey of adult New Zealanders conducted in 2014/2015 (CAANZ15, n = 1064) and its comparison with a similar 2001 study (CAANZ01, n = 438). Both aimed to describe current cancer awareness among a national sample of New Zealand (NZ) adults, with additional aims for CAANZ15 being to explore emerging issues in information provision and supportive care. Follow-up studies are challenged by changes in communication technologies and, in turn, potential issues in sampling. However, given the value of information about changing awareness, pragmatic steps were taken in CAANZ15 to maximise the response rate and comparability of the surveys. A response rate of 64 % was achieved for both samples. When compared to the adult NZ population, the CAANZ15 sample tended to be older, of higher socioeconomic status and under-representative of people with Pacific, Asian or, to a lesser extent, Māori (the indigenous population of NZ) ethnicity. To compensate for possible disproportionate age-by-ethnicity (Māori/non-Māori) groups in the sample, poststratification weighting was adopted. While caution will need to be exercised in drawing conclusions from comparisons made between these two cohorts, the dearth of such studies means that insights gained should be useful for guiding reflection on future cancer control directions and the generation of new hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Morocco, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women after breast cancer. Encouraging more women to practice cervical cancer screening remains a major public health concern. There is a lack of data on awareness and of data concerning the determinants of the acceptability of Pap smear test in Morocco. To fill this gap, our study aims to assess the level of awareness of cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among Moroccan women and to understand the determinants of the acceptability of Pap smear test. We conducted a cross-sectional study including 857 women in the following three Moroccan regions: Casablanca-settat, Marrakech-Safi, and Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, by using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire between November 2019 and February 2020. Out of the total sample, 83.9% of participants were aware of cervical cancer, 87.2% of participants were unaware of HPV, and 51.8% of participants were aware of Pap smear test. The rate of women who had ever had a Pap smear test in our population was only 19.36%. Moreover, our study revealed that more than 78% of participants were willing to undergo Pap smear test regularly in the future. The study revealed parity, age, educational level, risk perception, and the belief that early screening improves the chances of successful treatment, as determinants of acceptability of Pap smear test. Our results have shown that there is an urgent need to implement a strategy to sensitize women on the prevention of cervical cancer. Furthermore, the results of this study should be taken into account in the development of strategic and action plans for the prevention of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral cancer is prone to late-stage diagnosis, and subsequent low five-year survival rates. A small number of interventions or campaigns designed to enhance knowledge of risk factors and symptoms associated with oral cancer have been attempted in the UK, US, and some other countries. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve oral cancer knowledge. We searched five databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized/quasi-experimental (NR/QE) studies targeting the general population or high-risk groups (tobacco users or alcohol consumers), aged ≥15 years, and reporting the outcomes of individual and/or community level interventions. Two co-authors independently identified relevant studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, 27 (eight RCTs and 19 NR/QE studies) of the 551 studies identified from the five databases met the inclusion criteria. All RCTs and nine NR/QE studies used either printed materials, health education sessions, multimedia aids, or some combinations of these tools. The other ten NR/QE studies were community-based and used mass media campaigns to increase oral cancer awareness. Overall, the majority of studies significantly improved oral cancer knowledge; however, heterogeneity in study design and variation in measurement tools made it difficult to compare outcomes. Findings suggest that individual and/or community level interventions are generally effective in increasing knowledge of oral cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, and/or its early diagnosis and prevention strategies among the general population or high-risk groups. However, the long-term benefits of these interventions are understudied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation aimed to study breast cancer awareness based on health information literacy and influential factors of breast cancer awareness among female nursing students in Changchun city in China. A four-part self-report questionnaire including the participants' general demographic characteristics, the participants' specialized characteristics concerning breast cancer screening, the Chinese version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measurement (C-BCAM), and the Chinese version of the Health Information Literacy Self-rating Scale (HILSS) was designed to investigate breast cancer awareness and health information literacy and influential factors of breast cancer awareness among 205 female nursing students in Year 1–Year 3 using convenience sampling. The data were analyzed with SPSS 26.0 using descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, and multiple regression analysis. The nursing students had an average level of HIL (median = 101.00, (93.00, 107.00)) and a good level of breast cancer awareness (median = 82.00, (76.00, 88.00)). A significant positive correlation was found between the HILSS and total C-BCAM score (r = 0.439, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that grades (P < 0.001), training in BSE (P = 0.025), and intention of undergoing breast cancer screening (P = 0.028) were three predictive factors for breast cancer awareness among female nursing students. The female nursing students' HIL was at an average level, and breast cancer awareness was at a good level. Health information literacy and breast cancer awareness among female nursing students in Changchun were significantly positively correlation, as demonstrated by this survey. Therefore, nursing education has the responsibility to improve female nursing students' awareness of breast cancer at different grades and to cultivate health information literacy. More training in BSE is needed. Greater efforts may be needed to develop targeted nursing education to strengthen female nursing students' awareness of breast cancer and HIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of awareness of oral cancer in healthcare staff at a district general hospital in the UK. This excluded those staff involved in head and neck cancer management. The study identified the areas where there was a deficiency in knowledge and quantified any differences across the professions. Following a literature review utilising the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Healthcare Databases Advanced Research (HDAS) tool, a questionnaire was designed, which was piloted amongst healthcare professionals on one ward. The feedback from the respondents was used to test the suitability of the survey format and modified before implementation across the hospital. One hundred fifty-five completed surveys were collected. The respondents were divided into doctors, nursing staff, and healthcare assistants (HCAs). There were generally low to middle levels of subjective individual confidence in identifying oral cancer. There was confusion on the clinical signs of oral cancer, with 29% of respondents believing that toothache was a sign. Almost half of all the respondents believed that dental decay was a risk factor for oral cancer. Although the significance of an early diagnosis was recognised as being important, a number of respondents were not aware of the likely differences in morbidity and mortality based on the stage of disease on diagnosis. This study has demonstrated that the healthcare workforce has gaps in knowledge both in of the presentation of oral cancer and the morbidity and mortality associated with a delay in diagnosis. Further learning opportunities for all healthcare staff will help to reduce future disease burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than two thirds of breast cancers in developing countries are diagnosed at a late stage. Awareness-based screening programmes, integrated into existing infrastructure, are the way forward for cancer control in these countries. We aim to describe a structured screening programme established in an urban community in Mumbai, India. We conducted a breast cancer awareness survey in this urban community covered by employees' health scheme. A brochure was designed to inform women about early signs of breast cancer and was posted for the women in the community. We described early signs and symptoms of breast cancer and encouraged the women to seek healthcare in the breast clinics specifically designed for early referral. A multidisciplinary team was established for further in-house care at the community hospital. A database of the detected cancers was maintained. A total of 22,500 brochures were sent in each round of mailing. Four such rounds were conducted in 3 years. A total of 3547 women reported for clinical breast examination (CBE) for various breast complaints or screening. Of these women, 53% were asymptomatic. CBE was normal in 2843 women, and 767 (21%) women were referred for further investigations. Eighty-three breast cancers were detected with 72% having early (stage I-II) cancers. Our exploratory study revealed that awareness-based screening programmes with organised infrastructure and referral pattern could lead to diagnosing early cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral cancer is a life-threatening disease with low survival rates, especially when diagnosed in an advanced stage. Lack of awareness about this cancer among the population is proposed as a possible reason for this diagnostic delay. The aim of this study was to evaluate oral cancer awareness, as well as the association of this with sociodemographic status in Tehran. In this cross-sectional population-based survey, 1800 self-administered questionnaires (collecting sociodemographic data, questions regarding oral cancer awareness and the source of information) were distributed through multistage stratified random sampling. Scores for questions ranged from 0 to 4, and totals were summed. The outcome of question responses was also analyzed separately. In total, 1312 questionnaires were available for analysis, from 788 females and 489 males (37.8 ± 9.02 years). Only 30% of the respondents were aware of oral cancer. The average score for awareness was 1.09 ± 1.6 with no significant differences between age groups and genders. Almost 6.5% of participants had complete awareness about oral cancer. A significant difference was found between mean scores in different levels of education and occupation (p = 0.0001). From 585 responses to the "source of information" question, "public media" was the most important source (almost 50%). Only 2% mentioned "dentists" as a source of information. This study indicated an alarming lack of oral cancer awareness and literacy in Tehran, Iran. Dentists should be obliged to practice their pivotal role in informing the public about oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored, via an online questionnaire, knowledge of breast and reproductive system cancers in patients and non-patients who access the internet for information on these diseases. We compared that knowledge to the attention the diseases have received in medical research and on the Internet. Data were collected from 690 respondents (37 % male, 63 % female) about their knowledge of prevalence, lethality, treatments and side effects of testicular, prostate, breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers. Most males, but only half of the female participants, were patients themselves. Although participants showed better knowledge of cancers specific to their own sex, both sexes felt familiar with breast cancer and less aware of other cancers. Women were as aware as men of side effects of treatments for male reproductive cancers. Sex differences in awareness appear to reflect different attitudes towards illness, bias toward females as caregivers, and the disproportionate media attention given to breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]