Experience of anti-cancer education of the population

Reducing cancer incidence and increasing early diagnosis in cases of cancer diseases is possible only with a sufficient level of public awareness of the causes of cancer, measures and methods of their prevention and early diagnosis. All this is ensured by effective cancer education of the population, which is the main tool for implementation scientifically based and effective measures and methods for the prevention of cancer diseases into practical health care.

Purpose of the study is to assess the availability to understanding and effectiveness of the information brochure "How not to get cancer", as one of the types of cancer education of the population.

Material and methods. In the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology the information brochure "How not to get cancer" was prepared and printed, which intended for distribution among the adult population. The brochure in a language accessible to a wide range of readers provides scientific and reliable information on the cancer prevalence, on the main causes and risk factors for the development of cancer diseases and proven effective measures and methods of cancer prevention. To assess the information brochure availability and effectiveness in improving knowledge about cancer and motivation to implement cancer prevention measures, out of a total of 257 persons who confirmed reading of the brochure, a targeted random sample survey of 73 persons aged 18-79 was conducted. The survey in the form of a telephone interview was conducted according to a standardized, structured questionnaire that included 10 main questions regarding the clarity and personal informativeness of information brochure, its usefulness and the possibility of applying the information contained in it for yourself and in your lifestyle.

Results. In the survey, a large majority of 77% (95%CI 68% to 86%) of respondents rated the brochure information as "interesting". And none of those surveyed rated the brochure as "not interesting". Almost all the respondents, 92% (95% ДИ 86% -98%), replied that they understood everything in the content and text of the brochure. Furthermore 71% (95% CI 61%-81%) of them expressed a desire to take some preventive measure to eliminate or limit the action of 1 or more known cancer risk factors from their lifestyle.

Conclusion. The results of the study confirm the effectiveness of the information brochure "How not to get cancer" for the understanding of scientifically based knowledge about cancer and it’s prevention and for motivation for behavior to exclude cancer risk factors for from lifestyle.