Knowledge, Perception, and Attitudes About Cancer and its Treatment Among Healthy Relatives of Cancer Patients: Single Institution Hospital-Based Study in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess knowledge, perception, and attitudes regarding cancer and treatment among healthy relatives of cancer patients who attended an outpatient cancer clinic with their relatives who suffer from cancers. The participants recruited in this cross-sectional, interview-based study were 846 (557 female and 289 male subjects) healthy relatives of cancer patients from the outpatient cancer clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Most of the participants answered that they believed the causes of cancer were genetic (44.90 %), followed by environmental factors (30.10 %), diet (26.90 %), other causes (26.90 %), envy (26.90 %), and black magic (17.60 %). Most of the healthy participants believed that doctors should tell patients the full truth about the diagnosis (83.57 %). More than half of the healthy population stated that cancer patients should accept all types of treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and/or surgery), with more male subjects having this position than females (P = 0.014). Most of the participants believed that cancer cannot be caught from another person who suffered from cancer (67.50 %). Most of the participants believed that cancer education was sufficient (66.70 %), with a significant difference between male and female respondents (P = 0.004). With regard to why cancer patients hide their disease, most of the participants in the age group <25 years believed that the causes were fear of loss of health insurance (56.20 %), followed by job loss (34.40 %), and then social stigma (9.40 %); in the age group between 25 and 45 years, the causes were fear of loss of health insurance (76.50 %), followed by social stigma (14.70 %), and then job loss (8.80 %); while in the age group >45 years, the reasons were job loss (47.10 %), followed by health insurance loss (41.20 %), and then social stigma (11.80 %), with a significant difference between groups (P = 0.034). This study demonstrated that still a large number of healthy participants had deficient perceptions and poor attitudes about important issues concerning cancers such as different mode of treatments, alternative treatment, biological causes, and prognosis, particularly among male respondents. Prevention education strategies should be considered, including targeted approaches that aim to reduce disparities in cancer perception among the general population.

Investigation of Stigma Phenomenon in Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study

“…Typically, cancer is associated with death, fear and emotions such as anxiety, agitation, painful and uncontrollable situation (16). Investigating of women's beliefs about cancer showed that the concepts of fear, mystery, contagion, and stigma are considered as a nature of cancer and lifestyle, stress, environment, genes, unknown causes and destiny are identified as explanations about the cancer causes and in some cases, factors such as black magic were considered as a cause of cancer (17,18).…”

Stigmatisierende Einstellungen gegenüber Krebspatienten – Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Bevölkerungsbefragung

“…Nur sehr vereinzelt zeigen Befunde zur Stigmatisierung von Krebspatienten auch Zusammenhänge zu soziodemografischen Merkmalen der Befragten, wobei die wenigen Untersuchungen dazu aus anderen Kulturkreisen stammen und nur bedingt übertragbar sind. Männer und Personen mit geringerem Einkommen, niedrigerer Bildung sowie mit schlechterem Gesundheitszustand bringen eine stärkere Stigmatisierung gegenüber Krebspatienten zum Ausdruck [12,13]. Dabei ist zu beachten, dass Erhebungen zu stigmabezogenen Einstellungen mit sozial erwünschten Antworten korrespondieren können und sozial erwünschtes Antwortverhalten negative Einstellungen nicht oder abgeschwächt reflektiert [14].…”

“…In anderen Studien wird demgegenüber ein enger Zusammenhang zwischen internal attribuierten Krebserkrankungen (insbesondere Lungenkrebs) und stigmatisierenden Einstellungen gezeigt [9]. Die Ergebnisse zum Zusammenhang von soziodemografischen und persönlichen Merkmalen und der Zustimmung zu stigmatisierenden Aussagen sind konform mit den Befunden aus der Literatur: höhere Zustimmung zu krebsstigmatisierenden Aussagen geben Ältere (> 60 Jahre) sowie Männer [5,12]…”

Attitudes Toward Cancer and Cancer Patients in an Urban Iranian Population

“…Despite advances in early detection and treatment, a cancer diagnosis is often considered a death sentence, and negative images and myths regarding cancer persist . Cancer patients frequently do not disclose their diagnosis to avoid discrimination or problems at home, in the workplace, or in society in general . Furthermore, general population surveys show that a substantial proportion of people feel uncomfortable in the presence of cancer patients and tend to avoid interacting or working with them .…”

“…Furthermore, general population surveys show that a substantial proportion of people feel uncomfortable in the presence of cancer patients and tend to avoid interacting or working with them . Discriminatory behavior toward cancer may alienate patients from their community , complicate returning to work after treatment , and have adverse physical and mental health consequences for cancer survivors .…”