A Jordanian view about cancer knowledge and attitudes.

Cancer is a major cause of death in Jordan. It is noticed that the majority of the Jordanian people still have many misconceptions about this disease. Public education campaigns were launched regularly when the first cancer center in the country was initially opened and began to function partially in 1996. However, the baseline data needed for the initial planning of these campaigns were not available. This study aimed at exploring the knowledge and attitudes of a sample of the Jordanian people toward cancer. The questionnaire, Public Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Cancer (PKAC), developed by the researchers, was the main tool used in the study. The questionnaire consisted of two sections: The first section obtained demographic data about the participants, and the second solicited data concerning the participants' knowledge and feeling about the disease. The second section contained items to which the participants answered yes, no, or don't know. The findings of this study will contribute to our general understanding and knowledge of the educational needs in Jordanian society regarding cancer as a disease.