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Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitudes that patients seen at a health centre had of cancer risk factors and their prevention., Design: A descriptive crossover study. Non-probabilistic sampling by quota. Survey with questionnaire., Setting: Rekaldeberri Health Centre (Bilbao)., Participants: 400 people aged between 14 and 74 who attended the Centre for any reason during June and July 1995., Measurements and Main Results: 276 patients (69%) thought that cancer was preventable. The cancers most often cited as preventable were lung in men and breast in women. 371 (93%) related cancer to tobacco; 372 (93.1%) to sun-bathing without protection; 267 (66.8%) to excess of alcohol. 192 (48%) thought that diet could play a protective role. 339 (84%) thought that early diagnosis was possible: of these, 60.5% cited breast cancer. 222 women (96.7%) knew about mammography; and 166 (79.4%), cytology. In age groups for whom these techniques are appropriate, 32 women (56.1%) had had the first, and 136 (76%) the second. 258 (64.5%) did not smoke; 230 (57.5%) did not drink; 156 (39%) always used protective cream; and 328 (82%) ate fruit and/or vegetables daily or almost daily., Conclusions: The population group studied had a good understanding of cancer risk factors and prevention.

Objectives: To find the degree of control, the prevalence of complications and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), and the drugs treatment used for type II diabetics., Design: A descriptive crossover study., Setting: Rekaldeberri Health Centre, Bilbao., Patients: 202 diabetes II patients selected at random., Interventions: Data were gathered by interviews, physical examinations and further tests., Main Results: 52.2% of the sample were women. Average age was 66.6 50% of the diabetics had been diagnosed for 8 years or more. Microalbuminuria was detected in 21.9% of the patients, Microangiopathy in 24.8%, Neuropathy in 11.4% and diabetic foot in 10.4%. The years of evolution and appearance of complications had a significant connection. 64.4% of patients had a good or acceptable metabolic control. Worse metabolic control of diabetes was connected with the appearance of retinopathy and neuropathy. 47.5% were hypertensive. 21.3% smoked, 35.6% had cholesterol figures over 250 mgr/dl. Their mean Body mass index was 28.1. 40.6% were treated exclusively by diet, 9.9% with insulin and 35.6% with medicines taken orally., Conclusions: A high percentage of diabetics had a good or acceptable control of their disease. Prevalence of complications was less than in other studies, whereas CVRFs were similar. We do not discount the presence of bias in the comparison because of different diagnostic methods.