scholarly journals Knowledge and Beliefs of Cancer Risk Factors and Early Cancer Symptoms in Lebanon: A Cross-sectional Survey Among Adults in the Community

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 107327482110531
Author(s):  
Georges Hatem ◽  
Diana Ghanem ◽  
Eliane Kellen ◽  
Ibrahim AlZaim ◽  
Mathijs Goossens

Background Lebanon has an increasing cancer burden. Sufficient knowledge of cancer risk factors and early cancer symptoms can help lower cancer burden by facilitating primary prevention and early diagnosis. This study (i) assessed Lebanese adults’ knowledge and beliefs of cancer risk factors and early cancer symptoms, (ii) analyzed whether knowledge was correlated with personal behavior, and (iii) assessed the presence of barriers that keep knowledge from turning into healthcare seeking behavior. Methods We performed a cross-sectional survey in the Lebanese adult population, consisting of a questionnaire administered during face-to-face interviews on a community-based non-probability sample (n = 726) that was frequency matched to national government estimates on age, level of education and gender. Results Recognition was high for carcinogens and protective factors (75%), but low for neutral factors (22%) which were often seen as carcinogenic. A quarter of participants (27.8%) could not name any early warning signs. For some risk factors, high knowledge scores were correlated with low-risk behavior, but this was not the case for cigarette smoking. The most frequent barriers for not seeking timely care were financial (57.0%) fear of finding illness (53.7%), and having other things to worry about (42.4%). Conclusion This study revealed important knowledge gaps which are likely to hamper primary prevention and early diagnosis. However, we also showed that high knowledge of risk was not always correlated with low-risk behavior. This, together with the barriers we found that kept people from seeking timely health care, emphasizes that efforts to lower cancer burden should not only focus on increasing knowledge.

2021 ◽  
Vol 319 ◽  
pp. 01051
Author(s):  
Amran Ibrahim ◽  
Karima El Rhazi ◽  
Bouchra Benazzouz ◽  
Sawson Mohammed

Cancer is the second biggest cause of premature death after cardiovascular diseases. However, the majority of cancers are caused by risk factors that may be changed. Knowledge is frequently a component of the behavior modification process. Data on the target population’s level of knowledge is required. A cross-sectional survey about nine risk factors for cancer was conducted in four areas in Yemen. The data was analyzed using spss statistics (version20). Among the (571) subjects who took part in the research. The majority of respondents agreed that active smoking, alcohol consumptions are cancer risk factors and physical activity as a preventive factor for developing cancer. However, fewer respondents agreed that passive smoking, lack of fresh vegetables and fruits, sun overexposure, obesity, air pollution in cities and indoor smoke, physical inactivity are cancer risk factors. Participants’ responses were shown to have a strong relationship with their educational level, residency, and gender. The higher the educational level and whenever the gender was male and residency urban the higher the probability that respondents identified cancer risk factors including smoking and physical activity as a preventive factor (p<0.0005). The findings show that this community has little knowledge of prevalent cancer risk factors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 757-761
Author(s):  
Karine Corcione Turke ◽  
Juliana Seidler Canonaco ◽  
Thiago Artioli ◽  
Aline Hernandez Marquez Sarafyan ◽  
Erika Toshie Aoki ◽  
...  

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the knowledge about risk factors for cancer in patients treated at the ABC Medical School (FMABC). METHODS Cross-sectional observational study conducted in 2019. The American Cancer Institute’s Cancer Risk Awareness Survey questionnaire was used with 29 cancer risk factors, 14 of which were proven to cause cancer and 15 without consensus or scientific evidence of causality with cancer but that are often reminded by most of the population. Qualitative variables were described by frequency and percentage, and quantitative variables by mean and standard deviation or median and range depending on normality, assessed by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration for Research and approved by the Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS 191 patients were included. Median age 54 (20 to 90), 64% female. 35.6% reported current or previous smoking. 3.1% consumed alcohol more than 5 drinks/week. 56% reported sedentary lifestyle. 44% had at least 1 case of cancer in relatives up to 2nd degree. The average of correct answers in the analyzed population was 12.83 ± 3.06. A weak positive correlation was observed between income and number of cases (rho = 0.177, p = 0.02). No relationship was observed between the number of correct answers and level of education, age, sex, marital status, race or patients with a positive family history for cancer. CONCLUSION The knowledge about risk factors for cancer in the ABC population is low, which may contribute to the adoption of risk behaviors for the disease.


2020 ◽  
pp. 155982762094921
Author(s):  
Lei Xu ◽  
Mary Odum ◽  
Charles R. Rogers ◽  
Qiang Wu ◽  
Logan Wilmouth

Objective. This cross-sectional study examined associations between adolescent dietary behaviors and family/home environments with parent-adolescent dyadic analysis. Methods. Secondary data were analyzed for adolescents and their parents who participated in the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. Relationships between adolescent and parent intake of convenience/fast-food, fruits/vegetables, and sugar, as well as family/community and mealtime environments, were examined using Pearson’s correlations, 2-sample t tests, analysis of variance, and general linear model analyses. Results. Among this nationwide parent-adolescent dyad sample (N = 1890), a moderate relationship between parent and adolescent consumption of convenience/fast-foods ( r = 0.426) and fruits/vegetables ( r = 0.416) was found. Adolescent convenience/fast-foods intake differed by sex, neighborhood socioeconomic status, meals eaten with family, and meals eaten in front of the TV ( P < .001 for all) as well as race/ethnicity ( P = .004). Adolescent fruit/vegetable intake differed by home location ( P = .029), school location ( P = .032), meals eaten together with family, meals eaten in front of the TV, and body mass index category ( P < .001 for all). Generalized linear models revealed multiple predictors of adolescent dietary behaviors. Conclusion. Findings suggest dynamic relationships between adolescent and parent dietary cancer risk factors and adolescent fruit/vegetable consumption disparities by multiple environmental factors. Interventions targeting adolescent-parent dyads may help reduce cancer risk associated with diet.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 854-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amos D. Mwaka ◽  
Christopher G. Orach ◽  
Edward M. Were ◽  
Georgios Lyratzopoulos ◽  
Henry Wabinga ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 826-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazen Freij ◽  
Mohammad Al Qadire ◽  
Maysa Khadra ◽  
Mohammed ALBashtawy ◽  
Wael Tuqan ◽  
...  

Ovarian cancer accounts for 3% of all female cancers and has a high mortality rate among gynecological malignancies. Early diagnosis carries a high survival rate of 93%. So, this study was carried out to assess the knowledge and awareness of Jordanian women about ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors. A cross-sectional survey design was used; 896 women completed the survey. The mean of total symptoms recognized was low at level of 3.2 ( SD = 2.7) out of 10. The three highest known symptoms among women were as follows: extreme fatigue (43.2%), back pain (42.4%), and persistent pain in pelvic area (40.7%). The most commonly known risk factor was smoking (68.4%), followed by having ovarian cyst(s) (59.7%). Hence, with the absence of an effective screening program, a national awareness campaign is urgently needed to improve the public’s understanding of symptoms and risk factors and increasing women’s confidence in symptom recognition.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer D Brooks ◽  
Rebecca A G Christensen ◽  
Janice S Sung ◽  
Malcolm C Pike ◽  
Irene Orlow ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Histologically normal breast fibroglandular tissue (FGT) enhances on contrast MRI and is called background parenchymal enhancement (BPE). Having high BPE is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. We examined the relationship between MRI-FGT (a volumetric assessment of breast density) and BPE and breast cancer risk factors.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 419 women without breast cancer undergoing contrast-enhanced breast MRI. All women completed a questionnaire at the time of MRI. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) describing the relationship between breast cancer risk factors and BPE and MRI-FGT were generated using modified Poisson regression. Results: In multivariable adjusted models a positive association between BMI and BPE was observed, with a 5-unit increase in BMI associated with a 16% and 38% increase in prevalence of high BPE in pre- and post-menopausal women respectively. Conversely, a strong inverse relationship between BMI and MRI-FGT was observed in both pre- (PR=0.65, 95% CI 0.57, 0.76 per 5-unit increase of BMI) and post-menopausal (PR=0.67, 95% CI 0.57, 0.79, per 5-unit increase in BMI) women. Current use of oral contraceptives was associated with high BPE while use of preventive medication (e.g., tamoxifen) was associated with low BPE. Conclusion: This study identifies patient characteristics and exposures associated with BPE and MRI-FGT. BPE is a new imaging marker of breast cancer risk. The results of this study provide further support for the role of hormonal exposures on BPE.


Author(s):  
Sadhana Singh ◽  
Nutan Narayan ◽  
Rupam Sinha ◽  
Pragya Sinha ◽  
Virendra Prasad Sinha ◽  
...  

Background: Lack of awareness of risk factors and symptoms for cancer may leads to late diagnosis and poor prognosis. A Cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted to assess community awareness about cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms and perceptions about prevention and cure of cervical cancer.Methods: The cross-sectional study included 200 married women aged 18 years and above who consented for the study.Results: In present study, out of 200 respondents, the risk factors for cervical carcinoma known to females were HPV infection in 30 (15%), multiparity and reproductive tract infection in 24 (12%) each, frequent childbirth in 22 (11%), early marriage in 18 (9%) and multiple sexual partners in 12 (6%).158 (79%) females knew vaginal bleeding between menses as symptom of cervical cancer. 132 (66%) knew symptom as foul-smelling vaginal discharge, 86 (42%) as lower abdominal pain, 82 (41%) as loss of appetite and weight while 52 (26%) females knew the symptom as postcoital bleeding. 54 (27%) respondents knew that pap smear test should be done as screening test to detect cervical cancer in early stage while 22 (11%) respondents knew about HPV vaccine as preventive measure.Conclusions: Recognition of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms was low among study participants. Targeted interventions including increasing availability of HPV vaccination, population-based cervical screening and diagnostic services can translate high awareness into actual benefits.


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