Low Emma L, Waller Jo, Menon Usha, Jones Annwen, Reid Frances, Simon Alice E
Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2013 Jul;39(3):163-71. doi: 10.1136/jfprhc-2012-100473. Epub 2013 May 24.
To determine levels of awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms and to identify barriers to help-seeking and predictors of a longer time to help-seeking in a UK female population-based sample.
A UK population-based sample of women [n=1000, including a subsample of women at higher risk due to their age (≥45 years, n=510)] completed the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Measure by telephone interview. Questions measured symptom awareness (using recall and recognition), barriers to medical help-seeking and anticipated time to help-seeking. Regression analyses identified predictors of a higher score on a scale of anticipated time to help-seeking.
Most women (58% overall sample; 54% subgroup) were unable to recall any symptoms but 99% recognised at least one. Recognition was lowest for difficulty eating and persistently feeling full. In the sample overall, higher socio-economic status and higher endorsement of practical and service barriers independently predicted a longer anticipated time to help-seeking for more symptoms. White ethnicity was an additional predictor in the older subgroup.
This study suggests awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms is low in the UK, and varies widely between symptoms. It identifies variables that may be involved in a longer time to help-seeking for possible ovarian cancer symptoms and highlights the need for more in-depth research into the factors related to time to help-seeking in real-world situations.
在一个以英国女性为基础的样本中，确定卵巢癌症状的知晓水平，识别寻求帮助的障碍以及寻求帮助时间较长的预测因素。
一个以英国人口为基础的女性样本（n = 1000，包括因年龄较大而风险较高的女性子样本（≥45岁，n = 510））通过电话访谈完成了卵巢癌知晓度测量。问题测量了症状知晓情况（使用回忆和识别）、寻求医疗帮助的障碍以及预期的寻求帮助时间。回归分析确定了在预期寻求帮助时间量表上得分较高的预测因素。
大多数女性（总体样本的58%；子样本的54%）无法回忆起任何症状，但99%的人至少能识别出一种症状。进食困难和持续饱腹感的识别率最低。在总体样本中，较高的社会经济地位以及对实际和服务障碍的较高认可独立预测了针对更多症状寻求帮助的预期时间更长。在年龄较大的子样本中，白人种族是另一个预测因素。
本研究表明，英国对卵巢癌症状的知晓率较低，且不同症状之间差异很大。它确定了可能与因可能的卵巢癌症状而寻求帮助时间较长有关的变量，并强调需要对现实世界中与寻求帮助时间相关的因素进行更深入的研究。
