Perception of risk factors for cancer in the ABC population

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge about risk factors for cancer in patients treated at the ABC Medical School (FMABC). METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study conducted in 2019. The American Cancer Institute's Cancer Risk Awareness Survey questionnaire was used with 29 cancer risk factors, 14 of which were proven to cause cancer and 15 without consensus or scientific evidence of causality with cancer but that are often reminded by most of the population. Qualitative variables were described by frequency and percentage, and quantitative variables by mean and standard deviation or median and range depending on normality, assessed by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration for Research and approved by the Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS: 191 patients were included. Median age 54 (20 to 90), 64% female. 35.6% reported current or previous smoking. 3.1% consumed alcohol more than 5 drinks/week. 56% reported sedentary lifestyle. 44% had at least 1 case of cancer in relatives up to 2nd degree. The average of correct answers in the analyzed population was 12.83 ± 3.06. A weak positive correlation was observed between income and number of cases (rho = 0.177, p = 0.02). No relationship was observed between the number of correct answers and level of education, age, sex, marital status, race or patients with a positive family history for cancer. CONCLUSION: The knowledge about risk factors for cancer in the ABC population is low, which may contribute to the adoption of risk behaviors for the disease.