title: Knowledge and beliefs about smoking and cancer among women in five European countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung cancer mortality in women is increasing across Europe, reflecting the alarming increase in smoking prevalence. Understanding women's perception of smoking may help to identify ways to reduce its prevalence and prevent uptake of smoking. The aim of this study was to examine factors associated with knowledge and beliefs about smoking and cancer among European women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional landline telephone survey on health attitudes and knowledge was conducted in five European countries: France, Ireland, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. A general linear modeling was used to explore the factors related to knowledge and beliefs about smoking and cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 5,000 women were interviewed (1,000 women from each country). The mean knowledge and belief scores about smoking and cancer were lower in current smokers than those of never and former smokers (P < 0.05). Women with above-the-median income (P = 0.001) and women who held skilled occupations seemed to be more knowledgeable about tobacco health risks (P < 0.001). The number of friends and family who smoked was inversely associated with knowledge on the harmful effects of tobacco (P = 0.001). Swedish women were the most knowledgeable about tobacco-related cancer risk, whereas in France and Italy, current smokers were less knowledgeable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge and beliefs about cancer and smoking varied significantly by smoking status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results emphasize the need to develop health education programs that enhance cancer knowledge among women who currently smoke and are in low socioeconomic groups.
authors.affiliation: IARC, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dresler
authors.forename: Julia E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Heck
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allwright
authors.forename: Margaretha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haglund
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kralikova
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stucker
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tamang
authors.forename: Ellen R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gritz
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashibe
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology