A study of awareness of warning signs of cancer and its risk factors among adults in Ghorveh County-2017

Abstract

Background: Cancer is the third leading cause of mortality in Iran. Public awareness about the warning signs and risk factors can contribute to prevention and control of this disease. Methods: This population based cross-sectional study was conducted in Ghorveh, East of Iran among Kurdish adults aged 30-70 years old. They were selected from registered people in all health centers via stratifies random sampling. A questionnaire including demographic characteristics, list of warning signs and risk factors mainly using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire were completed by trained interviewers via face to face interview. Results: A total of 630 persons were included in this study, mean age was (46.24± 11.05) and 53% were women. The most recognized signs were “lump/swelling “(73%) followed by “a sore that does not heal” (57%). The least recognized signs were “pain” and “changes in bowel/bladder habits”. Smoking, water pipe use, genetics, and stress were the most recognized risk factors which were acknowledged by more than 70% of respondents. However, awareness of well-established lifestyle risk factors such as insufficient physical activity, obesity and inadequate fruit& vegetables was poor and less than 50% of individuals were aware of these risk factors. Age, gender, education were strongly associated with a higher score of awareness of both warning signs and risk factors. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a moderate public awareness of cancer warning sings in Kurdish population and high awareness of smoking as a well-established risk factor of cancer. However awareness of modifiable lifestyle risk factors such as insufficient physical activity, obesity and inadequate fruit& vegetables were alarmingly low.