Evaluation of attitudes toward cancer and related factors in adults

Background Evaluation of individuals' attitudes towards cancer could be instructive in improving the health promoting behaviour of populations such as cancer screening and increasing awareness of cancer. The aim of the study was evaluate attitudes toward cancer and related factors in adults who applied to primary healthcare center. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in 776 people aged 18 and over who applied to primary healthcare center in 2018. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, Questionnaire for Measuring Attitudes Toward Cancer and Health Literacy Scale-European Union-Q16 (HLS-EU-Q16). Questionnaire for Measuring Attitudes Toward Cancer consists of 3 sub-dimensions and the mean score of 2.5 and above was accepted as a negative attitude. Evaluation of the data Chi-square test, multiple logistic regression and Spearman correlation analysis were used. Results The ages of study group ranged 18-87 and the mean was 42.0±15.4, and 52.3% were female. The frequency of negative attitudes in the study group was 14.4% for general attitudes toward cancer, 22.9% for cancer diagnosis detection/spreading sub-dimension, 24.5% impossibility of recovery/stigmatization sub-dimension, 13.4% for discrimination sub-dimension. The multiple logistic regression showed, having primary and below education levels (OR: 1.88; CI: 1.22-2.87) and having cancer diagnosis (OR: 1.88; CI: 1.10-3.19) were found as risk factors for negative attitudes toward cancer. A weak negative correlation was found between the mean scores of Questionnaire for Measuring Attitudes Toward Cancer and the scores of HLS-EU-Q16 (r:-0.189; p < 0.001). Conclusions Although the majority of individuals have a positive attitude in the study, due to the negative attitude in sub-dimensions, it was concluded that health education should be given and more extensive research need to be done in this area in order to increase the awareness and sensitivity of the community about cancer. Key messages It might be considered important the education level in showing positive attitude towards cancer. Improving health literacy could be beneficial in increasing the positive attitude towards cancer.