Abstract
Background: The majority of deaths from cancer occur in low and middle income countries, partly due to poor public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer. Materials and Methods: A community based survey using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire was conducted in three different communities in Oman. Omani adults aged 18 years and above were invited to participate in the study. Results: A total of 345 responded from 450 invited participants (response rate=76.7%). The majority of respondents were unable to identify the common signs and symptoms of cancer identified in the CAM (average awareness was 40.6%). The most emotional barrier to seeking help was worry about what the doctor might find (223, 64.6%); a practical barrier was too busy to make an appointment (259, 75.1%) and a service barrier was difficulty talking to the doctor (159, 46.1%). The majority of respondents (more than 60% for seven out of ten symptoms) would seek medical help in two weeks for most signs or symptoms of cancer. Females were significantly more likely than males to be embarrassed (p
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2731-2737 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
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Keywords
- Awareness
- Cancer signs
- Cancer symptoms
- Oman
- Public
- Questionnaires
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
Cite this
Public awareness of warning signs and symptoms of cancer in Oman : A community-based survey of adults. / Al-Azri, Mohammed; Al-Hamedi, Ibtisam; Al-Awisi, Huda; Al-Hinai, Mustafa; Davidson, Robin.
In: Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, Vol. 16, No. 7, 2015, p. 2731-2737.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Public awareness of warning signs and symptoms of cancer in Oman
T2 - A community-based survey of adults
AU - Al-Azri, Mohammed
AU - Al-Hamedi, Ibtisam
AU - Al-Awisi, Huda
AU - Al-Hinai, Mustafa
AU - Davidson, Robin
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Background: The majority of deaths from cancer occur in low and middle income countries, partly due to poor public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer. Materials and Methods: A community based survey using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire was conducted in three different communities in Oman. Omani adults aged 18 years and above were invited to participate in the study. Results: A total of 345 responded from 450 invited participants (response rate=76.7%). The majority of respondents were unable to identify the common signs and symptoms of cancer identified in the CAM (average awareness was 40.6%). The most emotional barrier to seeking help was worry about what the doctor might find (223, 64.6%); a practical barrier was too busy to make an appointment (259, 75.1%) and a service barrier was difficulty talking to the doctor (159, 46.1%). The majority of respondents (more than 60% for seven out of ten symptoms) would seek medical help in two weeks for most signs or symptoms of cancer. Females were significantly more likely than males to be embarrassed (p
AB - Background: The majority of deaths from cancer occur in low and middle income countries, partly due to poor public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer. Materials and Methods: A community based survey using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire was conducted in three different communities in Oman. Omani adults aged 18 years and above were invited to participate in the study. Results: A total of 345 responded from 450 invited participants (response rate=76.7%). The majority of respondents were unable to identify the common signs and symptoms of cancer identified in the CAM (average awareness was 40.6%). The most emotional barrier to seeking help was worry about what the doctor might find (223, 64.6%); a practical barrier was too busy to make an appointment (259, 75.1%) and a service barrier was difficulty talking to the doctor (159, 46.1%). The majority of respondents (more than 60% for seven out of ten symptoms) would seek medical help in two weeks for most signs or symptoms of cancer. Females were significantly more likely than males to be embarrassed (p
KW - Awareness
KW - Cancer signs
KW - Cancer symptoms
KW - Oman
KW - Public
KW - Questionnaires
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84928624513&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84928624513&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.7.2731
DO - 10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.7.2731
M3 - Article
VL - 16
SP - 2731
EP - 2737
JO - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
JF - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
SN - 1513-7368
IS - 7
ER -