Awareness of risk factors for gastric cancer among residents / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To survey the awareness status of risk factors for gastric cancer and related factors among residents in Shijiazhuang city.Methods:From October to November 2020, residents aged>18 years were selected through convenience sampling from Xinhua District and Yuhua District in Shijiazhuang for a face-to-face questionnaire survey. The demographic characteristics and awareness levels of risk factors for gastric cancer among 1 490 subjects were analyzed. The multivariate linear regression model was applied to analyze the related factors.Results:There were 522 male participants (35.0%) and 968 female participants (65.0%). The mean knowledge score of risk factors of gastric carcinoma in the respondents was 5.0 (1.0, 11.0). There were 57.0% (849/1 490) of the participants who had a low knowledge level about risk factors of gastric cancer. The more highly recognized risk factors were irregular diet (47.4%, 706/1 490), consumption of pickled foods (45.2%, 674/1 490), consumption of smoked foods (45.0%, 671/1 490); the less-recognized risk factors included physical inactivity (14.8%, 221/1 490), male sex (17.3%, 258/1 490) and older age (19.5%, 291/1 490). Only 26.8% (400/1490) of the participants regarded H. pylori infection as a risk factor of gastric cancer. Univariate analysis showed that educational level ( Z=39.34), marital status ( Z=53.31), monthly income ( Z=11.82), family member or friend ever having stomach problem ( H=-2.98), and family history of gastric cancer ( H=-2.34) were significantly associated with the knowledge score of risk factors for gastric cancer ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that compared to participants with educational levels of primary school or below, those with educational level of junior high school ( β=0.27, P<0.001), high school ( β=0.23, P<0.001), or college ( β=0.16, P<0.001) had a higher levels of knowledge of risk factors for gastric cancer; compared to unmarried participants, awareness of risk factors was significantly better in those who were married ( β=0.16, P<0.001), divorced ( β=0.05, P=0.039), or widowed ( β=0.06, P=0.027); compared to participants with monthly income<3 000 yuan, the subjects with monthly income from 5 000 to 10 000 yuan ( β=0.07, P=0.020) had a higher knowledge score; compared to participants with no family history of gastric cancer, subjects with family history had higher knowledge level of risk factors for gastric cancer ( β=0.06, P=0.029). Conclusion:The knowledge levels of risk factors for gastric cancer are generally low among residents in Shijiazhuang city. Educational initiatives are required to improve the awareness of risk factors for gastric cancer, and interventions need to be implemented concurrently to change unhealthy behaviors among residents in Shijiazhuang city.