Public knowledge of cancer in southern Poland

Abstract

Introduction and aim. Due to the constantly growing number of cancer cases in Polish society, our study aimed to check the respondents’ knowledge of the broadly understood topic of cancer. The aim was to check the knowledge of Polish society and compare it according to age, gender, level of education, place of residence, and marital status. Material and methods. Our study was held in Podkarpackie and Malopolskie voivodeiship where participants completed a questionnaire containing 31 questions on the topic of cancer. The survey was completed by 360 people, 248 women, and 112 men. The study locations were diverse and the interviewees came from different backgrounds, age groups, and education. Results. The study revealed generally high awareness of cancer among 360 respondents, with 93% of whom recognized the importance of early detection, but significant gaps were identified in knowledge about prevention methods, including vaccina tions (36%) and viral causes (50%). Older adults and those with lower educational levels showed significantly lower awareness (p<0.05), highlighting the need for targeted educational initiatives. Conclusion. The survey we conducted clearly shows that the state of knowledge about cancer in Polish society is not yet fully sat isfactory. The conclusion that arises from our survey concerns the dissemination of knowledge about primary cancer prevention.