European Code Against Cancer (ECAC): Actions Taken by Polish ECAC Youth Ambassador

Background and context: European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) is an initiative of the European Commission aims to inform citizens about actions possible to take to decrease cancer risk. Current - 4th issue - of the ECAC contains 12 recommendations which can be implemented in daily life without any specific skills or advices. It is estimated that more than 50% of all cancer deaths in Europe could be prevented if every person would follow ECAC recommendations. So as to promote ECAC recommendations, Association of European Cancer Leagues - ECL created in 2015 Youth Ambassadors Program which brought together young people (18-35 y.o.) from more than 20 European countries to support ECAC dissemination in each country represented by youth ambassadors chosen in competitive process. In Poland, actions coordinated by ECAC Youth Ambassador (YA) - Pawel Koczkodaj - has been taken since 2017. Aim: To promote recommendations of the European Code Against Cancer, and raise its visibility in Poland. Strategy/Tactics: Accordingly to ECL data, 21% of people in Poland in 2017 have heard about ECAC. In comparison with 2015, there is an increase of awareness on ECAC existence - 13% in 2015, but this result is still not rewarding. Moreover, same knowledge is not enough - to reduce cancer risk, it is crucial to convince people to modify their behaviors and attitudes. Therefore, to achieve this goal, a brochure “12 sposobow na zdrowie” (12 ways to health) with ECAC recommendations in Polish language has been developed. This brochure in a simple words describes what to do to limit cancer risk. Additionally, Polish ECAC YA has developed strategy for promotion of this publication and performed its implementation. Program/Policy process: In developed strategy a wide variety of actions have been planned and performed so far. In planning process these actions were divided into two basic groups: education (lectures, seminars, nationwide brochure shipment, conferences) and promotion (media activities - nationwide TV and radio interviews, social media). All of these activities were scheduled and performed after SWOT analyze since July 2017 (strategy is still ongoing). Outcomes: With highly limited financial resources a large-scale educational and promotional action about ECAC recommendations was successfully planned, initiated and performed. What was learned: There is a need of constant actions aiming education about primary cancer prevention in Poland, especially among teenagers and young adults. Experience from meetings with these young people show that a lot of them have insufficient knowledge or misconceptions about primary cancer prevention - for example about HPV vaccinations. ECAC YAs concept turned out as a complex, efficient tool in promoting ECAC recommendations in Poland, which could be worth to spread to other, not only European countries.