TY - JOUR

T1 - A telephone survey of cancer awareness among frontline staff

T2 - informing training needs

AU - Cook, Neil

AU - Hart, Anna

AU - Nuttall, K

AU - Simpson, K

AU - Turnill, N

AU - Grant-Pearce, C

AU - Damms, P

AU - Allen, V

AU - Slade, K

AU - Dey, P

PY - 2011/8

Y1 - 2011/8

N2 - background: 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.methods: A cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone survey of 4664 frontline community-based health and social care staff in North West England.results: 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).conclusion: 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.

AB - background: 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.methods: A cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone survey of 4664 frontline community-based health and social care staff in North West England.results: 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).conclusion: 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.

KW - neoplasms

KW - health knowledge

KW - attitudes

KW - practice

KW - staff development

KW - risk factors

KW - early detection of cancer

U2 - 10.1038/bjc.2011.258

DO - 10.1038/bjc.2011.258

M3 - Journal article

VL - 105

SP - 340

EP - 345

JO - British Journal of Cancer

JF - British Journal of Cancer

SN - 1532-1827

IS - 3

ER -