title: European Code Against Cancer: what does the Spanish population know and think about its recommendations?
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Spanish population's knowledge of and beliefs regarding the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) recommendations. This was a cross-sectional, observational, multicentric study that used self-administered surveys. Ten individuals, between the ages of 15 and 69 years old, were enrolled by each participating primary care professional in their respective surgery consultations. This study used 2058 individuals who were recruited by 205 professionals from 106 health centres. Their average age was 41.5 years (52.2% women). The majority believe that smoking [94.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 93.1-95.2], sun exposure (91%; 95% CI: 89.7-92.3) and alcoholism (72.1%; 95% CI: 70.1-74.1) are factors related to cancer. The least relevant are infection by the hepatitis B virus (25.7%; 95% CI: 23.8-27.7) and having multiple sexual partners (25%; 95% CI: 23.1-26.9). In all, 86.7% (95% CI: 85.2-88.2) had never heard about the ECAC. Patients adequately identify the carcinogenic effect of tobacco, alcohol or sun exposure. Moreover, they inadequately identify having hepatitis B and multiple sexual partners as being related to cancer. A large majority of individuals have not heard of the ECAC, which raises the need to conduct outreach campaigns at an institutional level and/or through scientific associations and activities promoting health education among primary care professionals.
authors.affiliation: aTeaching Unit of Family and Community Medicine in Cordoba bInstitute Biomedical Research Maimonides Córdoba (IMIBIC)/Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia/University of Cordoba cImprovement Group PAPPS (semFYC) dUnit for Research Support of Costa de Ponent - IDIAP Jordi Gol, Address of Costa de Ponent primary care, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, and PAPPS Cancer Group (semFYC) ePAPPS Cancer Group (semFYC) fTeaching Unit Family and Community Medicine Sector I, Zaragoza, Aragon Health Service gGoya Park Health Center, Zaragoza hPeñarroya Health Center Cordoba iHospital Universitario de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife jABS Riu i Riu Nord Sud, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Catalan Institute of Health kService Clinical Management and Information Systems Directorate Primary Care Navarra Health Service lActur Health Center West, Zaragoza mHealth Center Can Misses, Ibiza nYébenes Health Center, Madrid and Center Health Arrabal, Zaragoza, Spain oHealth Center Arrabal, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis Ángel
authors.initials: LÁ
authors.lastname: Pérula-de-Torres
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzo-Castillejo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranchal-Sánchez
authors.forename: Cruz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartolomé-Moreno
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Parras-Rejano
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bellas-Beceiro
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vela-Vallespin
authors.forename: Maria Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nuin-Villanueva
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Melús-Palazón
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vilarrubí-Estrella
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin-Rabadán Muro
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin-Carrillo Domingez
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magallón-Botaya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006509:Hepatitis B; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009765:Obesity; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012907:Smoking; D013030:Spain; D013472:Sunlight; D055815:Young Adult