DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Awareness of Risk Factors for Cancer among Omani adults- A Community Based Study

  • Al-Azri, Mohammed (Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University) ;
  • AL-Rasbi, Khadija (College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University) ;
  • Al-Hinai, Mustafa (Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University) ;
  • Davidson, Robin (Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University) ;
  • Al-Maniri, Abdullah (The Research Council)
  • Published : 2014.07.15

Abstract

Background: Cancer is the leading cause of mortality around the world. However, the majority of cancers occur as a result of modifiable risk factors; hence public awareness of cancer risk factors is crucial to reduce the incidence. The objective of this study was to identify the level of public awareness of cancer risk factors among the adult Omani population. Materials and Methods: A community based survey using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire was conducted in three areas of Oman to measure public awareness of cancer risk factors. Omani adults aged 18 years and above were invited to participate in the study. SPPSS (ver.20) was used to analyse the data. Results: A total of 384 participated from 500 invited individuals (response rate =77%). The majority of respondents agreed that smoking cigarettes (320, 83.3%), passive smoking (279, 72.7%) and excessive drinking of alcohol (265, 69%) are risks factors for cancer. However, fewer respondents agreed that eating less fruit and vegetables (83, 21.6%), eating more red or processed meat (116, 30.2%), being overweight (BMI> 25) (123, 32%), doing less physical exercise (119, 31%), being over 70 years old (72, 18.8%), having a close relative with cancer (134, 34.9%), infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) (117, 30.5%) and getting frequent sunburn during childhood (149, 38.8%) are risk factors for cancer. A significant association was found between participant responses and their educational level. The higher the educational level, the more likely that respondents identified cancer risk factors including smoking (p<0.0005), passive smoking (p= 0.007), excessive drinking of alcohol (p<0.0005), eating less fruit and vegetables (p= 0.001) and infection with HPV (p<0.0005). Conclusions: The majority of respondents in this study in Oman were not aware of the common risk factors for cancer. It may be possible to reduce the incidence of cancers in Oman by developing strategies to educate the public about these risk factors.

Keywords

References

  1. Ahmed HG (2014). Survey on knowledge and attitudes related to the relation between tobacco, alcohol abuse and cancer in the northern state of Sudan. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 2483-6. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.4.2483
  2. Al-Lawati JA, Mabry R, Mohammed AJ (2008). Addressing the threat of chronic diseases in Oman. Prev Chronic Dis, 5, 99.
  3. Al-Moundhri M, Al-Bahrani B, Pervez I, et al (2004). The outcome of treatment of breast cancer in a developing country--Oman. Breast, 13, 139-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2003.10.001
  4. Albano JD, Ward E, Jemal A, et al (2007). Cancer mortality in the United States by education level and race. J Natl Cancer Inst, 99, 1384-94. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djm127
  5. Ali A, Al-Belushi BS, Waly MI, et al (2013). Dietary and lifestyle factors and risk of non-hodgkin's lymphoma in Oman. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 841-8. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.2.841
  6. Amin TT, Al-Hammam AM, Almulhim NA, et al (2014). Physical activity and cancer prevention: awareness and meeting the recommendations among adult Saudis. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15, 2597-606. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.6.2597
  7. Austoker J, Bankhead C, Forbes LJ, et al (2009). Interventions to promote cancer awareness and early presentation: systematic review. Br J Cancer, 101, 31-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6605388
  8. Babu GR, Lakshmi SB, Thiyagarajan JA (2013). Epidemiological correlates of breast cancer in South India. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 5077-83. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.9.5077
  9. Breslow RA, Sorkin JD, Frey CM, et al (1997). Americans' knowledge of cancer risk and survival. Prev Med, 26, 170-7. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.1996.0136
  10. Danaei G, Vander HS, Lopez AD, et al (2005). Causes of cancer in the world: comparative risk assessment of nine behavioural and environmental risk factors. Lancet, 366, 1784-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67725-2
  11. Ezzati M, Henley SJ, Lopez AD, et al (2005). Role of smoking in global and regional cancer epidemiology: current patterns and data needs. Int J Cancer, 116, 963-71. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.21100
  12. Falzon C, Chalabaev A, Schuft L, et al (2012). Beliefs about physical activity in sedentary cancer patients: an in-depth interview study in France. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 13, 6033-8. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.12.6033
  13. Faresjo T, Rahmqvist M (2010). Educational level is a crucial factor for good perceived health in the local community. Scand J Public Health, 38, 605-10. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494810374676
  14. Feizi A, Kazemnejad A, Babaee G, et al (2010). Public awareness of risk factors for cancer and its determinants in an Iranian population. Asia Pac J Public Health, 22, 76-88. https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539509350768
  15. Forbes LJL, Simon AE, Warburton F, et al (2013). Differences in cancer awareness and beliefs between Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK (the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership): do they contribute to differences in cancer survival? Br J Cancer, 108, 292-300. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2012.542
  16. Gokdemir-Yazar O, Yaprak S, Colak M, et al (2014). Family history attributes and risk factors for breast cancer in Turkey. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15, 2841-6. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.6.2841
  17. Hewitt M, Rowland JH, Yancik R (2003). Cancer survivors in the United States: age, health, and disability. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 58, 82-91. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/58.1.M82
  18. Jassem J, Ozmen V, Bacanu F, et al (2013). Delays in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer: a multinational analysis. Eur J Public Health [Epub ahead of print]
  19. Keramatinia A, Mousavi-Jarrahi SH, Hiteh M et al (2014). Trends in incidence of breast cancer among women under 40 in Asia. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15, 1387-90. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.3.1387
  20. Kruk J, Marchlewicz M (2013) Dietary fat and physical activity in relation to breast cancer among Polish women. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 2495-502. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.4.2495
  21. Kumar S, Burney I, Al-Ajmi A, Al-Moundhri M (2011). Changing trends of breast cancer survival in sultanate of Oman. J Oncol, 2011, 316243.
  22. Liu XO, Huang YB, Gao Y et al (2014). Association between dietary factors and breast cancer risk among Chinese females: systematic review and meta-analysis. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15, 1291-8. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.3.1291
  23. Lotrean LM, Ailoaiei R, Torres GM (2013). Health risk behavior of Romanian adults having relatives with cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 6465-8. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.11.6465
  24. Luqman M, Javed MM, Daud S, et al (2014). Risk factors for lung cancer in the Pakistani population. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15, 3035-9. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.7.3035
  25. Marlow LA, Waller J, Wardle J (2007). Public awareness that HPV is a risk factor for cervical cancer. Br J Cancer, 97, 691-4. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6603927
  26. Miles A, Waller J, Hiom S, et al (2005). SunSmart? Skin cancer knowledge and preventive behaviour in a British population representative sample. Health Educ Res, 20, 579-85. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyh010
  27. Ministry of Health (2010). The national strategic plan. The seventh five - year plan for health development (2006 . 2010). http://www.moh.gov.om/en/hr/11HRDPlan7F.pdf (Accessed 15.5.2014).
  28. Ministry of Health (2010). Early detection & screening for breast cancer- operational guidelines. Oman: ministry of health, department of family & community health. directorate general of health affair http://www.moh.gov.om/en/mgl/Manual/Guidelines%20on%20Breast%20cancer%20Screening%20services%20in%20Oman.pdf (Accessed 15.5.2014).
  29. Ministry of Health (2012). Glimpses of health system and health status in the sultanate of Oman. http://www.moh.gov.om/en/archives/healthvision2050/eng/Sultanate_of_Oman_Health_System_profile.pdf (Accessed 15.5.2014).
  30. Murff HJ, Spigel DR, Syngal S (2004). Does this patient have a family history of cancer? An evidence-based analysis of the accuracy of family cancer history. JAMA, 292, 1480-89. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.292.12.1480
  31. Ng SW, Zaghloul S, Ali HI, et al (2011). The prevalence and trends of overweight, obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases in the Arabian Gulf States. Obes Rev, 12, 1-13.
  32. Nooyi SC, Al-Lawati JA (2011). Cancer incidence in Oman, 1998-2006. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 12, 1735-8.
  33. Norlaili AA, Fatihah MA, Daliana NF, et al (2013). Breast cancer awareness of rural women in Malaysia: is it the same as in the cities? Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 7161-4. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.12.7161
  34. Norwati D, Harmy MY, Norhayati MN, et al (20014). Colorectal cancer screening practices of primary care providers: results of a national survey in malaysia. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15, 2901-4. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.6.2901
  35. Ortashi O, Raheel H, Shalal M (2014). Acceptability of human papilloma virus vaccination among women in the United Arab Emirates. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15, 2007-11. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.5.2007
  36. Qin Q, Xu X, Wang X, et al (2013). Obesity and risk of bladder cancer: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 3117-21. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.5.3117
  37. Radi SM (2013). Breast cancer awareness among Saudi females in Jeddah. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 4307-12. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.7.4307
  38. Rahim HF, Sibai A, Khader Y, et al (2014). Non-communicable diseases in the Arab world. Lancet, 383, 356-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62383-1
  39. Rastad H, Khanjani N, Khandani BK (2012). Causes of delay in seeking treatment in patients with breast cancer in Iran: a qualitative content analysis study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 13, 4511-5. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.9.4511
  40. Ravichandran K, Mohamed G, Al-Hamdan NA (2010). Public knowledge on cancer and its determinants among Saudis in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 11, 1175-80.
  41. Redeker C, Wardle J, Wilder D, et al (2009). The launch of Cancer Research UK's 'Reduce the Risk' campaign: baseline measurements of public awareness of cancer risk factors in 2004. Eur J Cance, 45, 827-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2008.10.018
  42. Robb K, Stubbings S, Ramirez A, et al (2009). Public awareness of cancer in Britain: a population-based survey of adults. Br J Cancer, 101, S18-3.
  43. Shi XJ, Au WW, Wu KS, et al (2014). Mortality characteristics and prediction of female breast cancer in china from 1991 to 2011. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15, 2785-91. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.6.2785
  44. Simayi D, Yang L, Li F, et al (2013). Implementing a cervical cancer awareness program in low- income settings in Western China: a community-based locally affordable intervention for risk reduction. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 7459-66. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.12.7459
  45. Simon AE, Juszczyk D, Smyth N, et al (2012). Knowledge of lung cancer symptoms and risk factors in the UK: development of a measure and results from a population-based survey. Thorax, 67, 426-32. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-200898
  46. Stubbings S, Robb K, Waller J, et al (2009). Development of a measurement tool to assess public awareness of cancer. Br J Cancer, 101, 13-7. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6605385
  47. Sun JY, Shi L, Gao XD, et al (2012). Physical activity and risk of lung cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 13, 3143-7. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.7.3143
  48. Tarstedt M, Larko O, Molin L, et al (2005). Increasing number of skin cancer cases--also among the younger. Lakartidningen, 102, 1972-5.
  49. Tayyem RF, Shehadeh IN, Abumweis SS, et al (2013). Physical inactivity, water intake and constipation as risk factors for colorectal cancer among adults in Jordan. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 5207-12. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.9.5207
  50. Turki R, Sait K, Anfinan N, et al (2013). Prevalence of human papillomavirus in women from Saudi Arabia. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 14, 3177-81. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.5.3177
  51. Wardle J, Waller J, Brunswick N, et al (2001). Awareness of risk factors for cancer among British adults. Public Health, 115, 173-4. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ph.1900752
  52. World Health Organization (2010). Country Cooperation strategy for WHO and Oman 12010-2015. http://www.who.int/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccs_omn_en.pdf? (Accessed 15.5.2014)
  53. World Health Organization (2014). Cancer- Fact sheet. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/ (Accessed 15.5.2014)
  54. World Health Organization (2014). The determinants of health. Health Impact Assessment (HIA). http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/ (Accessed 15.5.2014)
  55. Yancik R (2005). Population aging and cancer: a cross-national concern. Cancer J, 11, 437-41. https://doi.org/10.1097/00130404-200511000-00002
  56. Yancik R, Ries LA (2004). Cancer in older persons: an international issue in an aging world. Semin Oncol, 31, 128-36. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.seminoncol.2003.12.024
  57. Yusof AS, Isa ZM, Shah SA (21012). Dietary patterns and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review of cohort studies (2000-2011). Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 13, 4713-7. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.9.4713

Cited by

  1. Risk Awareness on Uterine Cancer among Australian Women vol.15, pp.23, 2015, https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.23.10251
  2. Development of a Family Nursing Model for Prevention of Cancer and Other Noncommunicable Diseases through an Appreciative Inquiry vol.15, pp.23, 2015, https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.23.10367
  3. Molecular Links between Alcohol and Tobacco Induced DNA Damage, Gene Polymorphisms and Patho-physiological Consequences: A Systematic Review of Hepatic Carcinogenesis vol.16, pp.12, 2015, https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.12.4803
  4. Effects of Nursing Education on Awareness of Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer vol.16, pp.14, 2015, https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.14.5763
  5. From Self-care for Healthy People to Self-management for Cancer Patients with Cancer Portals vol.16, pp.4, 2015, https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.4.1321
  6. Contrasts in Practices and Perceived Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening by Nurses and Physicians Working in Primary Care Settings in Oman vol.31, pp.1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-015-0806-3
  7. Knowledge and Awareness of Colorectal Cancer Early Warning Signs and Risk Factors among University Students in Jordan pp.1543-0154, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-016-1142-y