El Gazzar Walaa B, Al-Hashaikeh Qusai I, Al Maslooki Bara' A, Qarout Doa K, Abdin Youssef M, Hamad Mohammad O, Al Shuraiqi Qutaiba A, Al-Madi Balqees F, Bassiouni Joumana A, Nabil Nashwa
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2024 Nov 4;99(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s42506-024-00173-9.
In light of the existing body of scientific data, many substances are now recognized or reasonably assumed to be human carcinogens. Public knowledge about modifiable environmental carcinogens is regarded as a crucial first step in primary prevention. This study aimed to assess Jordanians' awareness of some of the recognized environmental human carcinogens and general cancer information.
This study was conducted using a cross-sectional descriptive survey based on a questionnaire completed by Jordanian participants aged 18 or above. The questions consisted of the following sections: socio-demographic characteristics, questions about the prevalent and non-prevalent cancer types in Jordan and general causes of cancer, closed-ended questions to evaluate knowledge about environmental carcinogens as well as factors that influence the development of cancer, source of knowledge about carcinogens and interest in learning about human carcinogens, and the best way for prevention of cancer.
A total of 579 questionnaires were completed. Among respondents, 55.6% (n = 322) had a knowledge score ≥ 8 indicating good knowledge. However, low awareness was demonstrated regarding cancer-causing substances such as wood dust, Nitrosamines, Aflatoxins, Formaldehyde, Naphthalene, Asbestos, Benzene, and Arsenic. A significant portion of the participants failed to categorize infectious pathogens linked to cancer as variables that either cause cancer or raise the risk of developing cancer.
This study demonstrated a good level of awareness regarding some environmental carcinogens but also highlighted the lack of knowledge about other environmental carcinogens. These findings may provide a guide for future awareness programs by health authorities.
鉴于现有的科学数据，现在许多物质被公认为或合理地假定为人类致癌物。公众对可改变的环境致癌物的了解被视为一级预防的关键第一步。本研究旨在评估约旦人对一些已确认的环境人类致癌物和一般癌症信息的知晓情况。
本研究采用横断面描述性调查，基于一份由18岁及以上约旦参与者填写的问卷进行。问题包括以下几个部分：社会人口学特征、关于约旦常见和不常见癌症类型及癌症一般病因的问题、用于评估对环境致癌物以及影响癌症发生因素的了解情况的封闭式问题、致癌物知识来源及了解人类致癌物的兴趣，以及预防癌症的最佳方法。
共完成579份问卷。在受访者中，55.6%（n = 322）的知识得分≥8，表明知识掌握良好。然而，对于木屑、亚硝胺、黄曲霉毒素、甲醛、萘、石棉、苯和砷等致癌物质的知晓率较低。很大一部分参与者未能将与癌症相关的传染性病原体归类为导致癌症或增加患癌风险的变量。
本研究表明对一些环境致癌物有较好的知晓水平，但也凸显了对其他环境致癌物缺乏了解。这些发现可为卫生当局未来的宣传项目提供指导。
