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Community attitudes towards the early detection of cancer in Victoria, Australia

journal contribution
posted on 2007-02-01, 00:00 authored by Trish LivingstonTrish Livingston, M Wakefield, J Elwood
Objectives: To describe people's attitudes towards early detection of cancer.

Methods: We conducted a telephone survey of Victorian adults aged 18+ years, during April-May 2005, using a market research company.

Results: 1,502 (41%) people participated; 80% of respondents believed that detecting cancer early meant that treatment saved lives most of the time or always; 88% believed finding cancer early enabled more effective treatment most of the time or always; and 70% indicated they would want to be tested for a cancer even if no treatment were available.  Two-thirds or more of adults considered survival would be very much improved by early detection for breast, melanoma and prostate cancers; 49% for bowel cancer, and 30% for lung cancer.

Conclusions and Implications : Community support for the early detection of cancer was evident even in the absence of effective treatment.  There was a lower perceived survival benefit for the early diagnosis of bowel cancer or melanoma.  An education campaign is required that focuses on the gains associated with early detection and benefits of screening for bowel cancer.

History

Journal

Australian and New Zealand journal of public health

Volume

31

Issue

1

Pagination

26 - 29

Publisher

Public Health Association of Australia

Location

Australia

ISSN

1326-0200

eISSN

1753-6405

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2008, RMIT Publishing