• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8371-8375
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• 2016

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common neoplasms in Iran. Secondary prevention (colorectal cancer screening) is important and a most valuable method of early diagnosis of this cancer. The objectives of this study were to determine the factors associated with colorectal cancer screening adherence among Iranians 50 years and older using the Health Belief Model. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2012 to May 2013. A convenience sample of 200 individuals aged 50 and older was recruited from the population at outpatient clinics in teaching hospitals. Data gathering tools were the Champions health belief model scale (CHBMS) with coverage of socio-demographic background and CRC screening information. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with colorectal cancer screening adherence. Results: The mean age of participants was $62.5{\pm}10.8$ and 75.5% were women. A high percentage of the participants had not heard or read about colorectal cancer (86.5%) and CRC screening (93.5%). Perceived susceptibility to colorectal cancer had the lowest percentage of all of the subscales. Participants who perceived more susceptibility (OR =2.99; CI 95%: 1.23-5.45) and reported higher knowledge (OR =1.29; CI 95%: 1.86-3.40) and those who reported fewer barriers (OR =.37; CI 95%:.21-.89), were more likely to have carried out colorectal cancer screening. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that CRC knowledge, perceived susceptibility and barriers were significant predictors of colorectal cancer screening adherence. Strategies to increase knowledge and overcome barriers in risk individuals appear necessary. Education programs should be promoted to overcome knowledge deficiency and negative perceptions in elderly Iranians.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권11호
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• pp.4885-4892
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• 2016

Background: Chinese and Korean Americans have lower colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates than other racial/ ethnic groups, which may be explained by a low level of CRC knowledge and a high level of misconceptions. This study explores the role of knowledge in CRC screening among these groups. Methods: Chinese (N=59) and Korean (N=61) Americans older than 50 were recruited from the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. They completed a detailed survey and participated in focus groups to discuss their knowledge on CRC and CRC screening. Seventeen physicians, community leaders, and patient navigators participated in key informant interviews. Using a mixed methods approach, data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: Participants lacked knowledge about CRC and CRC screening. More than half did not know that screening begins at age 50 and there are several types of tests available. More than 30% thought CRC screening was not necessary if there were no symptoms or there was nothing they could do to prevent CRC. Focus group findings suggested understanding about CRC was limited by an inadequate source of linguistically and culturally relevant health information. For example, many participants considered CRC a western condition mainly caused by unhealthy diet. This led to under-estimations about their susceptibility to CRC. Knowledge was positively associated with self-reported screening. Participants who had higher knowledge scores were more likely to report ever having had a colonoscopy and confidence in ability to have CRC screening. Conclusions: Mixed-methods analysis provides multi-faceted perspectives on CRC knowledge and its influence on screening. Study findings can help inform interventions to increase CRC screening among Chinese and Korean Americans.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권8호
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• pp.3809-3816
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• 2016

Background: Increasing knowledge and awareness of cancer screening significantly influence health promotion behavior which could markedly reduce incidence rates. In many countries, health care providers are the principal source of information concerning cancer screening. This study was carried out to assess the level of knowledge concerning cancer screening among medical students, house officers and residents and to explore their attitude towards cancer screening practices. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kasr Al Ainy Medical School at Cairo University in Egypt, with 300 undergraduate medical students and 150 postgraduates (interns and residents) enrolled. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the study participants regarding personal and education-related information, knowledge about cancer screening and its sources, and attitude towards cancer screening. Results: More than 64% of participants had knowledge scores of ${\leq}10$ points (out of 24). The total knowledge score (out of 6 points) for breast cancer screening increased from $1.9{\pm}1.0$ to $2.3{\pm}1.2$ and $2.4{\pm}1.1$ for $4^{th}$, $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ year respectively, interns showed the highest score of $2.6{\pm}1.1$, P= 0.001. Year of enrollment at medical school was a significant positive predictor of acquiring knowledge about cancer screening (post graduate vs. undergraduate students) (OR= 1.30, C.I =1.01-1.63), lack of or none receiving of orientation/training about cancer screening was the sole negative significant predictor for proper knowledge about cancer screening (OR=0.50, C.I=0.31-0.82). Over 92% of students agreed that they had insufficient knowledge about cancer screening, 88.2% appraised the need to have enough knowledge in order to direct/advice patients, relatives and friends, and 93.7% required that the faculty should emphasize the importance of cancer screening in the delivered curricula at medical school. Conclusions: A relatively low to moderate level of knowledge about cancer screening was detected among the selected medical students regardless of their year of enrollment at medical school or their graduation status, which may implicate a negative impact on early cancer detection especially in a low resource country like Egypt.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.3369-3373
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• 2013

Oral cancer is a global health burden with high mortality and morbidity. Advances in treatment have failed to improve the relatively poor survival rate due to late-stage diagnosis. Early detection and screening have been shown to be effective in reducing mortality and morbidity of most common cancers. Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of oral cancer screening programs but clear results were not obtained. This narrative commentary aimed to give a critical insight into the dilemma of oral cancer screening and to suggest recommendations for future trends. Conventional oral examination still constitutes the gold standard screening tool for potentially malignant oral lesions and cancer. Interestingly, the findings of the most lasting (15-year) randomized controlled trial on oral cancer screening using visual examination (Kerala) supported the introduction of a screening program in high-risk individuals. Several screening adjuncts exist but are still not at the introduction stage. Further research to find an appropriate adjunct reliable tool for oral cancer screening is needed. In conclusion, oral cancer fulfills most of the essential principles of cancer screening but still many points need to be clarified. Therefore, there is a striking need to establish a global consortium on oral cancer screening that will oversee research and provide recommendations for health authorities at regular intervals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권7호
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• pp.4141-4149
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• 2013

Background: Mammography is considered the gold standard of breast cancer mass screening and many countries have implemented this as an established breast cancer screening strategy. However, although the incidence of breast cancer and racial characteristics are different between Western and Asian countries, many Asian countries adopted mammography for mass screening. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine whether mammography mass screening is cost-effective for both Western and Asian countries. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was performed of 17 national mammography cost-effectiveness data sets. Per capita gross domestic product (GDP), breast cancer incidence rate, and the most optimal cost-effectiveness results [cost per life year saved (LYS)] of a mammography screening strategy for each data set were extracted. The CE/per capita GDP ratio is used to compare the cost-effectiveness of mammography by countries. Non-parametric regression was used to find a cut-off point which indicated the breast cancer incidence rate boundary line determining whether mammography screening is cost-effective or not. Results: We found that the cost-effective cut-off point of breast cancer incidence rate was 45.04; it exactly divided countries into Western and Asian countries (p<0.0014). Conclusions: Mammography screening is cost-effective in most of Western countries, but not in Asian countries. The reason for this result may be the issues of incidence rate or racial characteristics, such as dense breast tissue. The results indicate that mammography screening should be adopted prudently in Asian countries and other countries with low incidence rates.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.296-303
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• 2017

Background: This study purposed to analyze regional factors related to gastric cancer screening rate provided by national cancer screening program in Korea. Methods: The unit of analysis was administrative districts of si gun gu level. Dependent variable was regional gastric cancer screening rate provided by national cancer screening program, and regional variables were selected to represent the regional characteristics such as demographic, health behavior and status, socioeconomic, and health resource. Tobit regression was applied for the analysis. Results: Analysis results showed that gastric cancer screening rate was varied depending on regions from 47.8% to 69.1%. Tobit regression showed that gastric cancer screening rate had negative relationships with smoking rate, financial independence rate, and National Health Insurance premium per capita. And regional gastric cancer screening rate had positive relationships with sex ratio and number of gastric cancer screening center. Conclusion: Regional characteristics should be considered in establishing regional policies for increasing the gastric cancer screening rate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권23호
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• pp.10101-10106
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify factors of intrinsic motivation that affect regular breast cancer screening and contribute to development of a program for strategies to improve effective breast cancer screening. Subjects were residing in South Korea Gangwon-Province and were female over 40 and under 69 years of age. For the investigation, the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) was modified to the situation of cancer screening and was used to survey 905 inhabitants. Multinominal logistic regression analyses were conducted for regular breast cancer screening (RS), one-time breast cancer screening (OS) and non-breast cancer screening (NS). For statistical analysis, IBM SPSS 20.0 was utilized. The determinant factors between RS and NS were "perceived effort and choice" and "stress and strain" - internal motivations related to regular breast cancer screening. Also, determinant factors between RS and OS are "age" and "perceived effort and choice" for internal motivation related to cancer screening. To increase regular screening, strategies that address individual perceived effort and choice are recommended.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.63-73
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the relationships between trust and participation in cancer screening. Methods: Data from 2004 Busan Health Survey were analysed for the study. Multiple logistic regression was performed on participation in cancer screening by trust level with potential confounders(sex, age, education, monthly mean household income, subjective health status, smoking, alcohol intake, exercise, and daily eating habits). Results: In a total of 7,423 participants, 2,078(28.0%) were classified as cancer screening participants. High horizontal trust was associated with increased likelihood of cancer screening participation(OR(men) = 1.20, 95% CI 1.00-1.45) and (OR(women) = 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.39), after multiple adjustments. Respondents with high trust in health care system had significantly higher odds ratios for participation in cancer screening: 1.60(95% CI 1.27-2.02) among men and 1.18(95% CI 0.97-1.44) among women, after multiple adjustments. Conclusions: Trust was significantly associated with higher odds of cancer screening participation and could be a potent arena for increasing cancer screening participation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권8호
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• pp.3983-3987
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• 2012

In Malaysia, colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in males and the third most common in females. Mortality due to colorectal cancer can be effectively reduced with early diagnosis. This study was designed to look into colorectal cancer screening participation and its barriers among average risk individuals in Malaysia. A cross sectional study was conducted from August 2009 till April 2010 involving average risk individuals from 44 primary care clinics in West Malaysia. Each individual was asked whether they have performed any of the colorectal cancer screening methods in the past five years. The barrier questions had three domains: patient factors, test factors and health care provider factors. Descriptive analysis was achieved using Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12.0. A total of 1,905 average risk individuals responded making a response rate of 93.8%. Only 13 (0.7%) respondents had undergone any of the colorectal cancer screening methods in the past five years. The main patient and test factors for not participating were embarrassment (35.2%) and feeling uncomfortable (30.0%), respectively. There were 11.2% of respondents who never received any advice to do screening. The main reason for them to undergo screening was being advised by health care providers (84.6%). The study showed that participation in colorectal cancer screening in Malaysia is extremely low and multiple factors contribute to this situation. Given the importance of the disease, efforts should be made to increase colorectal cancer screening activities in Malaysia.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

The exposure of food to ionizing radiation has been recognized as a safe and effective mode of food preservation in more than 55 countries. The benefits include eradication of insect pests, inactivation of food pathogens, extension of shelf-life, and improvement in food hygiene. Regulatory authorities around the world have emphasized the implementation of various national and international regulations to facilitate trade and development of consumers' confidence in purchasing irradiated foods. Therefore, the need for reliable irradiation detection methods has increased to enforce these regulations. At present, a number of promising analytical approaches have been developed and evaluated. Moreover, about 10 European Standards have been adopted as General CODEX Alimentarius methods for the detection of irradiated foodstuffs. However, most of these methods demand relatively expensive equipment and prolonged sample preparation. Therefore, simple and cost-effective approaches would be advantageous for rapid screening of foodstuffs. The suspected samples need to be analyzed further with more validated techniques to confirm the screening results. In this review, existing screening methods (i.e. physical, chemical, and biological) for the identification of irradiated foods have been outlined along with their principles, scopes and limitations.