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A telephone survey of cancer awareness among frontline staff: informing training needs.
- Source :
-
British Journal of Cancer . 7/26/2011, Vol. 105 Issue 3, p340-345. 6p. 4 Charts. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Studies have shown limited awareness about cancer risk factors among hospital-based staff. Less is known about general cancer awareness among community frontline National Health Service and social care staff.<bold>Methods: </bold>A cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone survey of 4664 frontline community-based health and social care staff in North West England.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 671 out of 4664 (14.4%) potentially eligible subjects agreed to take part. Over 92% of staff recognised most warning signs, except an unexplained pain (88.8%, n=596), cough or hoarseness (86.9%, n=583) and a sore that does not heal (77.3%, n=519). The bowel cancer-screening programme was recognised by 61.8% (n=415) of staff. Most staff agreed that smoking and passive smoking 'increased the chance of getting cancer.' Fewer agreed about getting sunburnt more than once as a child (78.0%, n=523), being overweight (73.5%, n=493), drinking more than one unit of alcohol per day (50.2%, n=337) or doing less than 30 min of moderate physical exercise five times a week (41.1%, n=276).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Cancer awareness is generally good among frontline staff, but important gaps exist, which might be improved by targeted education and training and through developing clearer messages about cancer risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00070920
- Volume :
- 105
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- British Journal of Cancer
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 63248356
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2011.258