Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards lung cancer among adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a cross-sectional survey

Understanding the public knowledge, attitude, and practice toward screening and risk factors of lung cancer in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

CONTEXT

Early detection of lung cancer through screening can improve outcomes; yet public knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding lung cancer screening in Saudi Arabia are limited.

AIMS

The aim is to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward lung cancer risk factors and screening, and understand the impact of demographic factors on these variables.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to March 2024, involving 708 participants.

METHODS

A validated questionnaire from a previous Malaysian study, translated into Arabic, was distributed to participants.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk test, one-way analysis of variance, Tukey's test, and logistic regression were used.

RESULTS

Most participants (95.9%) recognized smoking as a major risk factor. Common misconceptions included viewing lung cancer as infectious (84.0%) or affecting only men (14.4%). Nonetheless, 66.4% expressed willingness for future screening. Younger participants (18-40 years) and those with higher education demonstrated better knowledge scores (mean score: 11.33 ± 2.97 for ages 18-40; 11.42 ± 2.88 for those with master's or doctorate degrees), with significant differences based on age (P = 0.007) and education level (P = 0.025). No significant differences were observed based on gender, region of residence, or monthly family income.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a positive inclination toward lung cancer screening among the Saudi public, but there are significant knowledge gaps, particularly regarding nonsmoking-related risk factors and misconceptions, suggesting a need for enhanced public education and screening programs.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of lung cancer screening and associated factors among high-risk population in Lanzhou, China: A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of high-risk populations toward lung cancer screening in Lanzhou, China. Using convenience sampling, this cross-sectional study enrolled outpatients at high-risk for lung cancer at Lanzhou University Second Hospital between November 2022 and March 2023. An anonymous, self-administered online questionnaire was distributed to each participant via the Sojump website (https://www.wjx.cn/), comprising 40 items to collect demographic information and evaluate KAP toward lung cancer screening. The analyses were descriptive. A total of 577 participants (average age of 61.8 ± 7.1 years; 306 males) were included in the study. The participants' scores for KAP were 4.9 ± 2.2, 27.4 ± 3.0, and 7.0 ± 2.1, respectively. Participants with occupational exposure had significantly lower knowledge score (3.3 ± 2.4 vs 5.2 ± 2.1, P < .001), and practice score (5.6 ± 2.4 vs 7.3 ± 1.9, P < .001) than those without occupational exposure. Participants with smoking or passive smoking history had significantly higher attitude scores (27.6 ± 2.9 vs 25.8 ± 3.2, P < .001) and practice scores (7.1 ± 2.0 vs 6.5 ± 2.5, P = .014) than those without smoking history. A total of 360 (62.4%) participants endorsed the doctors' counseling on lung cancer screening, and 355 (61.5%) participants were willing to have screening for lung cancer as doctors advised. The study revealed that 390 (67.6%) participants identified low-dose computed tomography as the appropriate method for lung cancer screening, while 356 (61.7%) participants believed that X-rays were a reliable screening method for lung cancer. However, 365 (63.3%) participants thought that the treatment outcomes for early and late-diagnosed lung cancer were the same. Additionally, 416 (72.10%) participants believed that annual lung cancer CT scanning is unnecessary. On the other hand, 339 (58.8%) participants expressed concerns about exposure to radiation from CT scans, while 349 (60.5%) participants were worried about the cost of lung cancer screening. Only 142 (24.6%) participants reported having undergone annual lung cancer screening. The high-risk population had limited knowledge and insufficient attitude and practice toward lung cancer screening in Lanzhou, China.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Knowledge and Awareness of Lung Cancer and Screening in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. With lung cancer often diagnosed at advanced stages, understanding the local population's awareness levels is crucial for designing effective preventive strategies. By identifying gaps in knowledge, the research aims to inform targeted health education efforts, optimize resource allocation, influence policy development, and contribute to the limited body of research on lung cancer awareness in the region, ultimately fostering improved public health outcomes.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia, from July 2022 to June 2023, 671 participants over 18 years old, encompassing both genders, were gsurveyed. Data was collected through a questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics and LC-related awareness. SPSS 23 was used for analysis. Factors associated with knowledge scores were explored using independent t-tests and ANOVA, with the Tukey post-hoc test identifying specific group differences.

RESULTS

The study included 671 participants, most participants were between 18 and 35 years (73.5%), with 38.5% males and 61.5% females. Lung cancer (LC) awareness was high (95.1%), with 4.9% reporting a family history. Knowledge assessment revealed a mean score of 14.66, with 41.6% having low, 49.5% moderate, and 8.9% high knowledge levels. Correct responses were notable for recognizing LC as a common cancer, a leading cause of death, and associating smoking and shisha with risk. Symptoms were well identified. Screening awareness was at 63.5%, with 78.8% willing to undergo tests if at risk. Age, marital status, and occupation were associated with knowledge, while factors like gender, nationality, residency, education, income, and smoking status showed no significant associations.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that there are knowledge gaps related to LC and its screening in Jazan region in Saudi Arabia. Effective awareness programs targeting specific sociodemographic groups are needed to improve the early detection and outcomes.