Tata Trusts Cancer Care Program, Mumbai, India.
Tata Trusts, Mumbai, India.
JCO Glob Oncol. 2020 Apr;6:601-609. doi: 10.1200/JGO.19.00257.
The burden of cancer is increasing globally, with poor outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality in patients, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Lack of awareness of the risk factors, symptoms, and signs of common cancers in addition to inadequate cancer prevention programs at the community level are a major hindrance to the early detection of cancer.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in the North East Region (NER) of India, with a sample population of 1,400 participants from Assam (n = 1,000), Meghalaya (n = 200), and Nagaland (n = 200). The questionnaire developed for the study consisted of sociodemographic profile, knowledge about cancer (oral, breast, and cervical), its warning signs, risk factors, and attitude toward cancer screening. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 13.0.
Among all the participants, 59% had heard about oral cancer, 50% about breast cancer, and 31% about cervical cancer. A limited understanding of risk factors, symptoms, and signs was reported for oral cancer (45%), breast cancer (54%), and cervical cancer (63%). A total of 34% of participants were aware of cancer screening. Among those who were aware of cancer screening, only six people had undergone any form of cancer screening, and 71% cited media as the major source of information.
The level of cancer awareness is low in the NER. A multipronged approach is needed with assistance from government and nongovernment organizations for training, providing adequate human resources and equipment, and developing cancer screening infrastructure. This needs to be coupled with mass media communication and interpersonal communication through frontline health workers.
全球癌症负担不断增加，患者的发病率和死亡率较差，尤其是在中低收入国家。除了社区层面缺乏癌症预防计划之外，人们对常见癌症的危险因素、症状和体征缺乏认识也是癌症早期发现的主要障碍。
在印度东北部地区（NER）进行了一项横断面研究，样本人群为来自阿萨姆邦（n=1000）、梅加拉亚邦（n=200）和那加兰邦（n=200）的 1400 名参与者。为该研究制定的问卷包括社会人口统计学概况、对癌症（口腔、乳房和宫颈）的了解、其警告信号、危险因素和对癌症筛查的态度。使用 STATA 版本 13.0 进行统计分析。
在所有参与者中，59%听说过口腔癌，50%听说过乳腺癌，31%听说过宫颈癌。据报道，对口腔癌（45%）、乳腺癌（54%）和宫颈癌（63%）的危险因素、症状和体征的了解有限。共有 34%的参与者了解癌症筛查。在那些知道癌症筛查的人中，只有 6 人接受过任何形式的癌症筛查，71%的人将媒体作为主要信息来源。
NER 的癌症意识水平较低。需要采取多管齐下的方法，在政府和非政府组织的协助下，进行培训，提供充足的人力资源和设备，并开发癌症筛查基础设施。这需要与大众媒体沟通以及通过一线卫生工作者进行人际沟通相结合。
