Abstract 1359: Addressing diverse perceptions of cancer in Asia: Lifestyle and awareness study in China as preliminary step towards the creatin of an Asian cancer barometer.
Authors: Kawahara Norie , Akaza Hideyuki , Hotta Zen-U , Horie Shigeo , Nakagawara Akira , Masui Tohru , Sugimura Haruhiko , Roh Jae Kyung 
Published: August 2014

Although Asia is a region where incidence of cancer is rapidly increasing, it is a region with unique difficulties for providing uniform measures for cancer control and treatment, due to significant disparities in medical and healthcare standards and regional cultural diversity. Given the long-term nature of the disease and treatment regimens, cancer is affected not merely by medical factors, but also by a diversity of social factors, including politics, economics and culture. It is for this reason that actual perceptions of cancer as a threat and as a disease may be assumed to differ from region to region. Although a number of epidemiological studies have been implemented in Asia, there has not been any region-based comparative study implemented that takes into account varying lifestyle factors and seeks to obtain information about people's perceptions of cancer and its psychological impact. Facing changes in the global burden of disease and seeking to advance measures for cancer on the global health agenda, the Asia Cancer Forum has launched a university-based, multidisciplinary program referred to as “Cross-boundary Cancer Studies,” and preparations for an international collaborative projects between Japan, China and Korea are being made. From the platform of this program, by implementing a lifestyle and awareness survey on attitudes to cancer in Asia, the Asian Cancer Forum aims to: 1) identify differences and commonalities in the perception of cancer, 2) assess individual and shared needs, and 3) use the results as a barometer for cultural attitudes and social systems relating to cancer. The ultimate aim is to reflect regional lifestyles, customs and other environmental factors in cancer prevention and treatment as a means of contributing to cancer control in Asia. As a preliminary study for creating an Asian Cancer Barometer, a survey on attitudes to cancer was implemented in China in 2011. The correlation analysis of the results of the survey shows significant differences between men and women and different age groups concerning cancer prevention needs and trust in social systems. Applying the latest behavior science techniques to the results of the preliminary study, the Asia Cancer Forum will consider issues for further study and surveys, as well as methods of selecting study subjects, with a view to creating an Asian Cancer Barometer that can be comprehensively utilized in the diverse Asian region.

Citation Format: Norie Kawahara, Hideyuki Akaza, Zen-U Hotta, Shigeo Horie, Akira Nakagawara, Tohru Masui, Haruhiko Sugimura, Jae Kyung Roh. Addressing diverse perceptions of cancer in Asia: Lifestyle and awareness study in China as preliminary step towards the creatin of an Asian cancer barometer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1359. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1359