Adolescents' Health Awareness and Understanding of Cancer and Tumor Prevention: When and Why an Adolescent Decides to Consult a Physician.
A feature often seen in adolescent patients with cancer is a lengthy symptom interval, especially in comparison with children. It has been suggested that inadequate awareness of cancer risk among adolescents may play an important role in this study.



The Società Italiana Adolescenti con Malattie Onco-ematologiche and the Fondazione Umberto Veronesi conducted a survey to investigate health awareness among healthy adolescents and their understanding of cancer and its signs and symptoms by commissioning a specialized agency (AstraRicerche). A questionnaire was administered to 500 Italian adolescents from the age group of 15 to 19 years using the computer-aided web interviewing method.



Approximately 80% of the adolescents interviewed claimed to be well informed about their own health, 85% said they were aware that some lifestyle habits could influence their health, and 80% reported that they know that cancer can develop in adolescence too. It was also noted that, while some adolescents were worried about a given symptom, 22% of them reportedly preferred a wait-and-see approach (either to avoid alarming their parents, or they hoped that the symptom would be temporary).



This study showed that a majority of adolescents are concerned about their own health, but sometimes prefer not to report their symptoms to anyone. Hence, it is important to develop information campaigns tailored to raise awareness among this age group and help them interpret their symptoms.
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Chiara
C
Magni
Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Milan, Italy.
Chiara
C
Segrè
AstraRicerche, Milan, Italy.
Cosimo
C
Finzi
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Laura
L
Veneroni
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.|Department of Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Psychology Section, Faculty of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Carlo Alfredo
CA
Clerici
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Maura
M
Massimino
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Michela
M
Casanova
Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Milan, Italy.
Vera
V
Martinella
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Stefano
S
Chiaravalli
Federazione Italiana Associazioni Genitori Oncoematologia Pediatrica, Modena, Italy.
Angelo
A
Ricci
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Department and "Tettamanti" Research Centre, Milano-Bicocca University, "Fondazione MBBM", San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Andrea
A
Biondi
Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
Andrea
A
Ferrari
D000293:Adolescent; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
adolescence; awareness; cancer; diagnostic delay; health; information campaigns; survey; symptom interval