Health promotion and early detection of cancer in older adults: assessing knowledge about cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the knowledge level concerning cancer in older Canadian adults.


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
Urban community in Canada.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 513 adults over the age of 55 (72% female; 68% born in countries other than Canada).


METHODS
A self-report questionnaire, the Cancer Knowledge Survey for Elders, was administered to participants in their native language (eight different language groups). Distribution was through community workers and public healthy nurses who worked with older adults.


METHODS
Knowledge about cancer, language group, length of time living in the country.


RESULTS
The highest number of correct responses (87%) was for the item "Can some cancers be cured if they are discovered early?" The highest number of wrong answers (67%) was for the item "Can a bump or bruise to the body cause cancer?" Sixty-six percent did not consider age as a risk factor. For all but three items, the proportion of English language to non-English language individuals with correct answers was significantly different individuals whose native language was not English were less knowledgeable about cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
This study offers a basis for a large multicultural survey. Should the observations be confirmed in a larger sample, implications exist for public education about the risk factors and signs and symptoms of cancer, especially with individuals for whom English is not a native language.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample, specific areas were identified in which knowledge about cancer was lacking. In particular, the increased risk of cancer with advancing age was not recognized by a significant portion of study participants.
Fitch
M I
MI
Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, Ontario, Canada.
Greenberg
M
M
Levstein
L
L
Muir
M
M
Plante
S
S
King
E
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009864:Ontario