Abstract
To improve the initial orientation of a screening programme we considered necessary to perform an evaluation to determine the population's understanding of lung cancer and the degree of participation
A written questionnaire was performed on 200 patients randomly selected from the Pulmonary outpatients. The mean age was 57 years, 60% were men, almost half were ex-smokers
45% believed that lung cancer was the most common cancer in men. Almost 60% considered it improbable or quite unlikely that they would be diagnosed with lung cancer. When asked about habits that could favour the appearance of lung cancer 183 patients associated it with smoking and 11 did not know
When asked about measures to prevent lung cancer, half of the sample thought that measures existed but did not state them, 11% did not know, 22% were aware of the importance of not smoking
When asked about tests used to diagnose lung cancer, 72% of the sample did not know, 20% answered a CT scan
If recommended by their doctor 93% of patients would have an annual CT scan. A lung cancer screening programme was considered positive and 68% expressed a strong intention to participate
The selected population knew something about the importance of lung cancer and some of its causes but did not know how it was diagnosed or what was the role of a screening programme
In general, patients would undergo the necessary tests and they considered a screening programme positive, even though the highest intention to participate did not reach 70%
In order to initiate preventive measures it would be useful to make the necessary information available to promote a better understanding of the disease and to favour participation in a screening programme.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
