Abstract
Aim
This study was designed to examine the awareness of the Jordanian population about the signs and symptoms of cancer.
Methods
A stratified random sampling technique was used in order to produce a reliable estimate for the population’s knowledge about cancer in the 12 governorates of Jordan. A representative sample of 2,962 adult educated individuals completed the study questionnaire.
Results
The highest level of awareness about the signs and symptoms of cancer was “having an unusual lump or swelling anywhere on your body,” which was reported by about three-quarters of the participants, and the lowest awareness was reported by almost 30% of the participants as having “A wound that won’t heal.” Interestingly, there was no significant association between doing screening for cancer and the demographic variables, namely, age, gender, education, and income.
Conclusions
The findings of this study provide data that will help in identifying gaps in the knowledge regarding the signs and symptoms of cancer and how it is linked to participants’ age, education level, gender, and income. They confirm the necessity for additional research tailored to each type of cancer to raise awareness level in the community.
Résumé
Objectif
Cette étude a été conçue afin d’examiner le niveau de sensibilisation de la population jordanienne aux signes et symptômes du cancer.
Méthodes
L’utilisation d’une technique d’échantillonnage aléatoire stratifié a permis de produire une évaluation fiable des connaissances de la population au sujet du cancer dans les 12 gouvernorats de Jordanie. Un échantillon représentatif de 2 962 personnes adultes et instruites a répondu au questionnaire de l’étude.
Résultats
Le plus haut niveau de conscience au sujet des signes et symptômes du cancer était « avoir une protubérance ou un gonflement inhabituel n’importe où sur le corps », signalé par près de trois quarts des participants. Le niveau le plus bas, indiqué par environ 30 % des participants, était avoir « une plaie qui ne guérit pas ». Il est intéressant de noter qu’il n’y avait aucun lien significatif entre le fait de faire un dépistage du cancer et les variables démographiques, telles que l’âge, le genre, l’éducation et les revenus.
Conclusions
Les conclusions de cette étude fournissent des données qui permettront d’identifier les écarts dans la connaissance des signes et symptômes du cancer et de comprendre l’influence de l’âge, du niveau d’éducation, du genre et des revenus des participants. Les résultats confirment la nécessité de recherches supplémentaires adaptées à chaque type de cancer afin d’élever le niveau de sensibilisation dans la communauté.
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Ahmad, M.M. Awareness about cancer in the 12 governorates of Jordan: A correlational, comparative study. Psycho Oncologie 9, 58–63 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11839-015-0502-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11839-015-0502-x