title: Factors associated with a positive attitude towards receiving cancer information: a population-based study in Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is necessary to raise a positive attitude towards cancer information to improve disease prevention and control.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify social factors, health characteristics and cancer-related perceptions and knowledge associated with a positive attitude towards cancer information.
  
  
  METHODS
  We ran multivariate logistic regression models to analyse population-based data from OncoBarómetro-2010, a Spanish representative survey on perceptions and knowledge, related to cancer, conducted among 7938 people aged 18 years or more.
  
  
  METHODS
  Attitudes towards cancer information. A positive attitude includes feeling motivated to keep informed, to have screening tests or to change lifestyle. A negative attitude includes feeling indifference, concern, frustration or fear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  38.3% of the studied population reported having received information related to cancer (within the last 6 months). Among those, 31.5% expressed a negative attitude towards cancer information. People more likely to have a positive attitude towards cancer information (reference category: negative attitude) were people aged 35-74 (ref: aged 18-34) (P < 0.001) and cancer survivors (ref: those who had not had cancer) (OR: 3.05; 95% CI: 1.73-5.38). The likelihood of a positive attitude increased with the level of education (P < 0.001). The variables negatively associated with a positive attitude towards cancer information were poor self-rated health status (ref: fair) (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.42-0.95) and high self-perceived risk of developing cancer (ref: low) (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.60-0.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings have potential to inform programmes designed to promote cancer prevention behaviours. Policies should target population groups with low socio-economic groups, those with poor self-rated health and individuals with high self-perceived risk of cancer. Further, in order to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms, we need to focus on individuals with unhealthy lifestyles.
authors: National School of Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.|CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
authors: Belén
authors: B
authors: Sanz-Barbero
authors: National School of Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.|AECC Cancer Observatory, Scientific Foundation Spanish Association Against Cancer, Madrid, Spain.
authors: María Eugenia
authors: ME
authors: Prieto
authors: AECC Cancer Observatory, Scientific Foundation Spanish Association Against Cancer, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Naiara
authors: N
authors: Cambas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Spain; cancer; cancer communication; information attitudes
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