title: Knowledge of lung cancer symptoms and risk factors in the U.K.: development of a measure and results from a population-based survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and validate a lung cancer awareness measure (Lung CAM) and explore the demographical and social predictors of lung cancer awareness in the general population. METHODS STUDY 1: Symptoms and risk factors for lung cancer were identified from the medical literature and health professional expertise in an iterative process. Test-retest reliability, internal reliability, item analyses, construct validity and sensitivity to changes in awareness of the Lung CAM were assessed in three samples (total N=191). RESULTS STUDY 1: The Lung CAM demonstrated good internal (Cronbach's α=0.88) and test-retest reliability (r=0.81, p<0.001). Validity was supported by lung cancer experts scoring higher than equally educated controls (t(106)=8.7, p<0.001), and volunteers randomised to read lung cancer information scoring higher than those reading a control leaflet (t(81)=3.66, p<0.001). METHODS STUDY 2: A population-based sample of 1484 adults completed the Lung CAM in a face-to-face, computer-assisted interview. RESULTS STUDY 2: Symptom awareness was low (average recall of one symptom) and there was little awareness of risk factors other than smoking. Familiarity with cancer, and being from a higher socioeconomic group, were associated with greater awareness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a valid and reliable tool for assessing awareness showed the UK population to have low awareness of lung cancer symptoms and risk factors. Interventions to increase lung cancer awareness are needed to improve early detection behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK. alice.simon@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alice E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Juszczyk
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiom
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Peake
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult