Prevalence of modifiable cancer risk factors and population knowledge about causes of cancer

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OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence of a number of modifiable risk factors for the development of cancer, to assess the population’s knowledge about the causes and risk factors of cancer development and preventive measures for them.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study has been conducted on a random sample of the adult population in Moscow with a number of participants equal 461 aged from 18 to 79 years. The median age was 45 years. The main research method was a personal formalized interviewing with the use of thematic unified questionnaire.

RESULTS

In the studied sample the proportion of all ever smokers was 62.2% among men and 24.6% among women. The proportion of subjects who were still smoking at the time of the study was 33.9% among men and 12% among women. The proportion of participants, who consumed alcohol twice a week or more was 25.4% (95% CI 18.85—31.94%) among men and 4.9% (95% CI 2.34—7.46%) among women. Only 80 subjects or 17.4% (95% CI 13.86—20.94%) followed recommended cancer preventive level of vegetable food intake (not less than 400g daily). Only 36.4% (95% CI 31.91—40.88%) of studied participants followed recommended cancer preventive regimen of physical activity of 30 minutes daily; 47.6% (95% CI 42.92—52.28%) of respondents had excessive body mass (32.5%) or obesity (15.1%). The majority of questioned subjects in a proportion of 54% (95% CI 49.56—58.84%) did not know anything or named only one correct cause of cancer development. The proportion of respondents equal 40.6% (95% CI 36.03—45.07%) did not know anything about the possibilities and preventive measures of tumor diseases or gave incorrect answers. It has been established that education and age can be determinants of the presence of certain risk factors of cancer, knowledge level about them and cancer preventive measures. This knowledge was generally better among subjects with higher education.

CONCLUSION

The majority of persons questioned in a random population sample did not know or had incorrect or insufficient knowledge about the causes of cancer development and its preventive measures. Active education of population on this issue using all available types and channels of information is needed.

Keywords:

cancer

risk factors

cancer prevention

health education

Authors:

Levshin V.F.

N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center Of Oncology

ORCID: 0000-0001-6400-3591

Slepchenko N.I.

N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center Of Oncology

ORCID: 0000-0003-4167-5189

Received:

09.03.2023

Accepted:

21.03.2023

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