title: Pediatric cancer knowledge: assessment of knowledge of warning signs and symptoms for pediatric cancer among Brazilian community health workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Field workers and lay community health educators are often children's first opportunity for correctly recognizing and responding to early signs and symptoms of pediatric cancers. Inadequate familiarity with the warning signs and symptoms of childhood cancer results in delayed referral to a physician for diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot study assessed community health workers' baseline level of knowledge about childhood cancers. Community health workers from Brazil completed a pediatric cancer knowledge questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although all respondents knew to refer a child suspected to have cancer to a physician, their knowledge of the early warning signs and symptoms of pediatric cancer was very low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings demonstrate a link between training and knowledge and confirm the need for targeted education in the warning signs and symptoms of pediatric cancer for community health workers in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. gworkm@midwestern.edu
authors.forename: Gloria M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Workman
authors.forename: Raul C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Shesh N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Arli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
authors.forename: Don E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Workman
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010372:Pediatrics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires