OBJECTIVE: To analyze Australian cancer patients' beliefs about factors contributing to the development of their cancer. METHODS: As part of a case-control study (The Cancer Council NSW Cancer, Lifestyle and Evaluation of Risk Study), a total of 2,857 cancer patients (open to all types of cancer) were surveyed and via an open-ended question, were asked to specify factors they think contributed to the development of their cancer. Qualitative analysis and categorical techniques were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: About half, 53%, of patients specified at least one contributing factor. The odds of a person specifying a contributing factor increased with time period since diagnosis (p = 0.0006). Patients most frequently specified, respectively: "Stress" (15.4%), "Genetics/hereditary" (10.9%) and "Smoking" (6.2%). Among factors specified the largest proportion (24.1%) was perceived to be "Non-modifiable." CONCLUSION: Cancer patients specified a broad range of factors and agents to which their disease may be attributed. Some of these were poorly correlated with epidemiological rankings of attributable risk factors. The role of psychosocial and genetic factors was overstated. Misconceptions regarding the causes of cancer are a key consideration of health professionals when devising communication strategies around cancer prevention.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze Australian cancerpatients' beliefs about factors contributing to the development of their cancer. METHODS: As part of a case-control study (The Cancer Council NSW Cancer, Lifestyle and Evaluation of Risk Study), a total of 2,857 cancerpatients (open to all types of cancer) were surveyed and via an open-ended question, were asked to specify factors they think contributed to the development of their cancer. Qualitative analysis and categorical techniques were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: About half, 53%, of patients specified at least one contributing factor. The odds of a person specifying a contributing factor increased with time period since diagnosis (p = 0.0006). Patients most frequently specified, respectively: "Stress" (15.4%), "Genetics/hereditary" (10.9%) and "Smoking" (6.2%). Among factors specified the largest proportion (24.1%) was perceived to be "Non-modifiable." CONCLUSION:Cancerpatients specified a broad range of factors and agents to which their disease may be attributed. Some of these were poorly correlated with epidemiological rankings of attributable risk factors. The role of psychosocial and genetic factors was overstated. Misconceptions regarding the causes of cancer are a key consideration of health professionals when devising communication strategies around cancer prevention.
Authors: Firdaus S Dhabhar; Alison N Saul; Tyson H Holmes; Christine Daugherty; Eric Neri; Jean M Tillie; Donna Kusewitt; Tatiana M Oberyszyn Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-04-25 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Allyson K Thomson; Jane S Heyworth; Jennifer Girschik; Terry Slevin; Christobel Saunders; Lin Fritschi Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2014-08-21
Authors: Juan Á Bellón; Patricia Moreno-Peral; Berta Moreno-Küstner; Emma Motrico; José M Aiarzagüena; Anna Fernández; Carmen Fernández-Alonso; Carmen Montón-Franco; Antonina Rodríguez-Bayón; María Isabel Ballesta-Rodríguez; Ariadne Runte-Geidel; Ariadne Rüntel-Geidel; Janire Payo-Gordón; Antoni Serrano-Blanco; Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez; Luz Araujo; María del Mar Muñoz-García; Michael King; Irwin Nazareth; Manuel Amezcua Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-03-19 Impact factor: 3.240