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Awareness of cancer risk factors and protective factors among Australian adults
Author(s) -
Lizama Natalia,
Jongenelis Michelle,
Slevin Terry
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1002/hpja.248
Subject(s) - medicine , environmental health , cancer , public health , risk factor , health promotion , protective factor , cancer prevention , cervical cancer , vaccination , overweight , gerontology , obesity , immunology , pathology
Issue addressed Up to one‐third of incident cancers in Australia are attributable to modifiable factors. Understanding the general public's awareness of cancer risk and protective factors is important for identifying knowledge gaps and informing the development of effective and targeted health promotion strategies. Methods In a telephonic survey of 355 Western Australian adults aged 18‐54 years (48% male), with a sample skewed towards low‐socio‐economic status areas, respondents rated the effect on cancer risk of 11 established cancer risk factors and seven established cancer protective factors. Results Most respondents correctly recognised the increased cancer risk from sun tanning (94%), asbestos (92%), pesticide use (92%) and being overweight or obese (86%), and the protective effect of being physically active (82%). Half (52%) of respondents incorrectly believed that red wine decreased or had no effect on cancer risk. One in five respondents (19%) incorrectly believed that sunscreen use increased cancer risk. Only 18% of respondents were aware that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination confers a protective effect, while 17% believed it increases risk. Conclusions Although the majority of respondents were aware of certain established cancer risk and protective factors, a sizeable proportion held misconceptions about the cancer risk associated with red wine consumption, sunscreen use and HPV vaccination. So what? Health promotion programs designed to educate the public about modifiable cancer risk factors may need to increase public awareness of the safety of preventive factors such as HPV vaccination and sunscreen, and the increased cancer risk from consumption of all alcoholic beverage types, including red wine.