AlRabeeah, SM;
Alzahrani, EM;
Aldhahir, AM;
Siraj, RA;
Alqarni, AA;
AlDraiwiesh, IA;
Alqahtani, AS;
... Alqahtani, JS; + view all
(2024)
A population-based study of 15,000 people on Knowledge and awareness of lung cancer symptoms and risk factors in Saudi Arabia.
Frontiers in Oncology
, 14
, Article 1295847. 10.3389/fonc.2024.1295847.
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Abstract
Background: Lung cancer is currently the most fatal form of cancer worldwide, ranking as the fourth most prevalent type in Saudi Arabia, particularly among males. This trend is expected to increase with growing population, lifestyle changes, and aging population. Understanding the awareness of the Saudi population regarding the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer is necessary to attenuate the predicted increase in cases. / Method: A cross-sectional, population-based survey was performed using a previously validated questionnaire (Lung CAM). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess variables associated with deficiency in knowledge and awareness of risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer. / Results: Majority of the 15,099 respondents were male (65%), aged between 18 and 30 years (53%), 50% of which were educated up to a bachelor’s degree level. Overall awareness of lung cancer signs and symptoms was 53%, with painful cough and coughing up blood being the best-known symptoms. Conversely, persistent shoulder pain (44%) and clubbing fingers (47%) were the least known lung cancer symptoms. Also, 60% of the respondents showed low confidence in identifying the signs and symptoms of lung cancer. The overall awareness of the risk factors for lung cancer development was 74%, with first-hand (74%) and second-hand (68%) smoking being the most known risk factors. However, only ≤ 62% know the other non-smoking risk factors. Awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer depended on age, gender, education, marital and employment status (p < 0.001). / Conclusion: Public awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of lung cancer in Saudi Arabia is inadequate and heavily dependent on education and socio-economic status. Awareness can be improved through campaigns to raise awareness about other lesser-known lung cancer risk factors and symptoms.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | A population-based study of 15,000 people on Knowledge and awareness of lung cancer symptoms and risk factors in Saudi Arabia |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fonc.2024.1295847 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.1295847 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2024 AlRabeeah, Alzahrani, Aldhahir, Siraj, Alqarni, AlDraiwiesh, Alqahtani, Almqati, Alharbi, Almuntashiri, Alghamdi, Aljohani, Almulhim, Alshehri, Naser, Alwafi, Alobaidi, Hjazi, Alsulaimani, Oyelade, Alahmari, Alanazi, Almeshari and Alqahtani. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. |
| Keywords: | lung cancer, Saudi Arabia, public awareness, survey, smoking |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10190270 |
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