Public Perceptions of the Role of Lifestyle Factors in Cancer Development: Results from the Spanish Onco-Barometer 2020
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Cancer prevention Perceptions Lifestyle habits Risk factors Public knowledge Awareness Population-based survey
Date
2021Referencia bibliográfica
Petrova, D.; Borrás, J.M.; Pollán, M.; Bayo Lozano, E.; Vicente, D.; Jímenez Moleón, J.J.; Sánchez, M.J. Public Perceptions of the Role of Lifestyle Factors in Cancer Development: Results from the Spanish Onco-Barometer 2020. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 10472. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph181910472
Patrocinador
Cancer Observatory of the Spanish Association against Cancer; Cancer Epidemiological Surveillance Subprogram (VICA) of the CIBERESP, Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Health Institute Carlos III (Expde: CD19/00203); Juan de la Cierva Fellowship from the Ministry of Science and the National Research Agency (MCIN/AEI, JC2019- 039691-I, http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100011033, 3 October 2021).Résumé
The European Code against Cancer recommends not to smoke, to avoid alcohol consumption, to eat a healthy diet, and maintain a healthy weight to prevent cancer. To what extent is the
public aware of the influence of these lifestyle factors on cancer development? The goal of the current study was to describe the perceived influence of four lifestyle factors (tobacco, alcohol, diet,
and weight) on cancer development in the general population and identify factors related to low
perceptions of influence. We analyzed data from the 2020 Onco-barometer (n = 4769), a representative population-based survey conducted in Spain. With the exception of smoking, lifestyle factors
were among those with the least perceived influence, more so among the demographic groups at
higher risk from cancer including men and older individuals (65+ years). Individuals from lower
socio-economic groups were more likely to report not knowing what influence lifestyle factors have
on cancer. Lower perceived influence was also consistently related to perceiving very low risk from
cancer. Overall, although there is variation in perceptions regarding the different lifestyle factors,
low perceived influence clusters among those at higher risk for cancer. These results signal the need
for public health campaigns and messages informing the public about the preventive potential of
lifestyle factors beyond avoiding tobacco consumption.