Pediatric cancer knowledge: assessment of knowledge of warning signs and symptoms for pediatric cancer among Brazilian community health workers.
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.
Workman
Gloria M
GM
Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. gworkm@midwestern.edu
Ribeiro
Raul C
RC
Rai
Shesh N
SN
Pedrosa
Arli
A
Workman
Don E
DE
Pedrosa
Francisco
F
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