title: Public Perceptions on Cancer Incidence and Survival: A Nation-wide Survey in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the public perceptions of the incidence rates and survival rates for common cancers with the actual rates from epidemiologic data.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey of Korean adults without history of cancer (n=2,000). The survey consisted of questions about their perceptions regarding lifetime incidence rates and 5-year survival rates for total cancer, as well as those of eight site-specific cancers. To investigate associated factors, we included questions about cancer worry (Lerman's Cancer Worry Scale) or cared for a family member or friend with cancer as a caregiver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 19% of Korean adults had an accurate perception of incidence rates compared with the epidemiologic data on total cancer. For specific cancers, most of the respondents overestimated the incidence rates and 10%-30% of men and 6%-18% of women had an accurate perception. A high score in "cancer worry" was associated with higher estimates of incidence rates in total and specific cancers. In cancers with high actual 5-year survival rates (e.g., breast and thyroid), the majority of respondents underestimated survival rates. However, about 50% of respondents overestimated survival rates in cancers with low actual survival rates (e.g., lung and liver). There was no factor consistently associated with perceived survival rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Widespread discrepancies were observed between perceived probability and actual epidemiological data. In order to reduce cancer worry and to increase health literacy, communication and patient education on appropriate risk is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Korean Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soyeun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Survivorship Clinic, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Kook
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.|Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Korean Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Survivorship Clinic, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: BeLong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Informatics and Management, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Dukhyoung
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Keeho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.|Department of Health Informatics and Management, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.|Graduate School of Health Science Business Convergence, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hyock
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011336:Probability; D011639:Public Opinion; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: Cancer incidence; Cancer survival; Health numeracy; Perception; Worry