Cancer Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours

Dr. Sinead Keeney, BA (Hons), MRes, PhD is Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Nursing Research at the University of Ulster. She has a degree in Politics and Sociology from Queens University, Belfast, Masters degree in Research Methods and a PhD from the University of Ulster.

This book relates to a study undertaken to explore the stated knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of people in mid-life towards cancer prevention. Using a three stage sequential exploratory mixed method design, the study found that people aged 35-54 years have a low level of knowledge of cancer warning signs. Evidence showed that different sub-groups have different preferences for the provision of cancer prevention information and that the 'blanket approach' is having little effect. Results also highlighted the ongoing difficulties that men have addressing cancer prevention. A variety of attiudes and perceptions were uncovered in relation to people's attitudes towards cancer prevention ranging from negative attitudes such as 'don't tell me what to do' to more positive attitudes. Fingings around individual choice, percpetion of risk and misconcpetions provided further insight. There are implications arising from the findings of the study for policy makers, education providers, cancer charities, general practitioners and primary care nurses.