Cancer Beliefs, Attitudes and Preventive Behaviours of Nurses Working in the Community

Abstract

A study of nurses, comprising district, school and practice nurses and health visitors, working in the community was carried out in 1992/1993. The aims of the research included exploration of the nurses' beliefs about and attitudes to cancer and their own cancer preventive behaviours. Focus group methodology was used, with 11 discussion groups, totalling 86 nurses. Data were analysed qualitatively and reported in relation to emergent themes. The nurses found cancer a terrifying disease, dreading a personal diagnosis and feeling ambivalent about treatment effectiveness. However, they were good role models for cancer prevention, eating a healthy diet, protecting themselves from the sun, attending regularly for cervical and breast screening, and the majority did not smoke.

What knowledge and attitudes do paid carers of people with a learning disability have about cancer?

“…The majority of words that respondents associated with cancer were negative, which reflects general perceptions of cancer as one of the most feared diseases (Kearney et al 2003). Studies have also found negative attitudes to cancer among healthcare professionals (Box & Anderson 1997;McCaughan & Parahoo 2000), but there is a dearth of literature regarding the views of social carers who are more likely than healthcare professionals to support people with learning disabilities in community settings. The relevance of exploring attitudes to cancer in this target population is threefold.…”

Influence of traditional Chinese beliefs on cancer screening behaviour among Chinese‐Australian women

“…Some attention has previously been paid to the relationship between fatalistic beliefs and preventive behaviour. It has been shown that people in Western industrialized countries who are familiar with cancer prevention measures may nevertheless adopt fatalistic attitudes towards the disease (Box & Anderson 1997, Sheikh & Ogden 1998. In Clover et al's (1991) study among Australians, most respondents believed that lung and skin cancer were not preventable, although risk factors for these are well established and widely publicised.…”

Stéréotypes et préjugés à l’égard de personnes atteintes de cancer : étude auprès d’une population générale et de professionnels de santé

“…Cette différence pouvant s'expliquer par des niveaux de connaissances différents. Les résultats sur les préjugés et stéréotypes sur le cancer révèlent généralement une absence de différence significative en fonction du genre, de la profession, de l'expérience clinique, ou de la formation spécialisée ou non en oncologie par exemple (e.g., Box & Anderson, 1997 ;Kearney et al, 2003 ;Simon et al, 2011). Les expériences personnelles et professionnelles avec les malades seraient les principaux facteurs déterminants des stéréotypes et préjugés associés aux malades atteints de cancer.…”