title: Pakistani urban population demonstrates a poor knowledge about cancers: a pilot survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the perceptions and level of knowledge of a Pakistani urban population regarding presentations, risk factors, and screening of cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 4 tertiary care hospitals, 439 subjects were recruited through convenient sampling method and interviewed using a standard questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 90% of subjects demonstrated poor knowledge. Good knowledge was associated with female gender, being married, higher socioeconomic status, and level of education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our sample demonstrates an inadequate knowledge regarding the presentations, risk factors, and screening of cancers. Efforts aiming to correct these deficiencies might result in a successful and cost-effective model for primary and secondary prevention of major cancers in Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazahir
authors.forename: Rabeeya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nusrat
authors.forename: Munira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bokutz
authors.forename: Nida Butool
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.forename: Nadeem Nooruddin
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Jaffer
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Kanwal Aliraza
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maqsood
authors.forename: Syed Faridul
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Hasnain
authors.forename: Muhammad Rizwanulhaq
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khawaja
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*