Department of Natural Sciences, Middlesex University London, London, UK.
Cancer Med. 2023 Apr;12(8):9879-9892. doi: 10.1002/cam4.5670. Epub 2023 Feb 7.
Ovarian cancer does not cause many symptoms in the early stages, which is why the majority of cases are of advanced disease. Increasing awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms may lead to earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes.
Participants in Britain completed the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Measure by online survey (n = 459).
Our participants were 75% female, 25% male and a young (27.89 ± 11.44 years) ethnically diverse population (40.3% White, 29.3% Asian and 18.0% Black). Individuals recalled 1.24 ± 1.30 symptoms, and recognised 5.96 ± 2.4 symptoms. We found higher levels of recall and recognition compared to previous research possibly due to using an online survey. Recognition was lowest for difficulty eating (39.4%) and persistently feeling full (38.7%). Males had slightly lower symptom recall and recognition than females. Participants incorrectly recalled an irregular menstrual cycle (22.4%) as an ovarian cancer symptom and 67% answered the age of incidence question incorrectly. Suggesting that participants incorrectly associate ovarian cancer as a disease of pre-menopausal women. Individuals recalled 1.47 ± 1.20 risk factors, and recognised 6.1 ± 2.4 risk factors. Family history of ovarian cancer was recalled by 59% of participants. Recognition was lowest for in vitro fertilisation treatment (23.0%) and talcum powder in the genital area (23.0%). The generic cancer risk factors of alcohol (9.3%) and poor diet (8.8%) were recalled as specific ovarian cancer risk factors. 57.9% of participants incorrectly answered that there is an ovarian cancer screening programme. Suggesting confusion between ovarian and cervical cancer as participants also recalled cervical cancer risk factors of sexually transmitted diseases (6.3%) and human papillomavirus (1.5%). 29.7% of female participants would seek help for an ovarian cancer symptom within 1-2 days. Help seeking was higher in the Black and Asian ethnicities (44.4% and 45.0%; p = 0.018).
Awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms is low. Ovarian cancer awareness campaigns should include common misconceptions identified in this research.
卵巢癌在早期阶段不会引起很多症状，这就是为什么大多数病例都是晚期疾病。提高对卵巢癌症状的认识可能会导致更早的诊断和更好的结果。
英国的参与者通过在线调查完成了卵巢癌意识量表（n=459）。
我们的参与者中 75%为女性，25%为男性，是一个年轻的（27.89±11.44 岁）、种族多样的人群（40.3%为白人，29.3%为亚洲人，18.0%为黑人）。个体回忆起 1.24±1.30 种症状，并识别出 5.96±2.4 种症状。与之前的研究相比，我们发现回忆和识别的水平更高，这可能是由于使用了在线调查。最难识别的症状是进食困难（39.4%）和持续饱腹感（38.7%）。男性的症状回忆和识别率略低于女性。参与者错误地将月经不规律（22.4%）回忆为卵巢癌症状，67%的人错误回答了发病年龄问题。这表明参与者错误地将卵巢癌与绝经前妇女的疾病联系在一起。个体回忆起 1.47±1.20 种风险因素，并识别出 6.1±2.4 种风险因素。有 59%的参与者回忆起家族卵巢癌病史。识别率最低的是体外受精治疗（23.0%）和生殖器区域使用爽身粉（23.0%）。参与者错误地将普通癌症风险因素酒精（9.3%）和不良饮食（8.8%）回忆为特定的卵巢癌风险因素。57.9%的参与者错误地回答有卵巢癌筛查计划。这表明参与者混淆了卵巢癌和宫颈癌，因为他们还回忆起了宫颈癌的性传播疾病（6.3%）和人乳头瘤病毒（1.5%）风险因素。29.7%的女性参与者会在 1-2 天内为卵巢癌症状寻求帮助。黑人和亚裔的求助率更高（分别为 44.4%和 45.0%；p=0.018）。
对卵巢癌症状的认识很低。卵巢癌宣传活动应包括本研究中确定的常见误解。
