ArticleBMC public health2020
Cancer symptom and risk factor awareness in Malaysia: findings from a nationwide cross-sectional study.
Article in BMC public health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A Systematic Review on Reporting of Methods in National Surveys about Adults' Attitudes to Lifestyle and Environmental Risk Factors for Cancer.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention on Community Pharmacists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions Toward Breast Cancer Screening.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Immunotherapy in Asia: current insights and prospects in Southeast Asia and Malaysia.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Review
- Public awareness and knowledge of aphasia in Malaysia: a cross-sectional survey.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Awareness of Cancer Risk Factors, Protective Factors, Symptoms and Barriers to Seek Medical Advice among Adult Population.Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP · 2025Article
- The Cancer Burden in Sarawak, Malaysia: Sarawak Cancer Report.Health science reports · 2025Article
- The Protective Effects of Carvacrol Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity In Vitro and In Vivo.Cardiovascular toxicology · 2025Article
- Perceived causes of cancer in a rural community of Ethiopia: a qualitative study.Global health action · 2024Article
- Socio-Economic Inequalities in Beliefs About Cancer and its Causes: Evidence From two Population Surveys.Psycho-oncology · 2024Article
- Who should be screened for colorectal cancer and how can it be prevented more effectively?World journal of gastrointestinal oncology · 2024Article
- Article
- The effect of somatic mutations in mitochondrial DNA on the survival of patients with primary brain tumors.Croatian medical journal · 2024Article
- Women's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perception on Personalized Risk-Stratified Breast Cancer Screening: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia.Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP · 2024Article
- Cancer literacy differences of basic knowledge, prevention, early detection, treatment and recovery: a cross-sectional study of urban and rural residents in Northeast China.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Breast cancer and breast cancer screening use-beliefs and behaviours in a nationwide study in Malaysia.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Geographic, Demographic, and Socioeconomic Disparities and Factors Associated With Cancer Literacy in China: National Cross-sectional Study.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2023Article
- Implementation of a home-based colorectal cancer screening intervention in Malaysia (CRC-SIM).BMC cancer · 2023Article
- Cognition of the warning symptoms and risk factors for cancer among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study based on a summer social practice activity.Annals of medicine · 2023Article
- The burden of premature mortality among older adults: a population-based study in Malaysia.BMC public health · 2022Article
- Public Awareness of Bowel Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms and Screening in Tasmania, Australia: A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundCancer incidence in Malaysia is expected to double by 2040. Understanding cancer awareness is important in order to tailor preventative efforts and reduce the cancer burden. The objective of this research was to assess nationwide awareness about the signs and symptoms as well as risk factors for various cancers in Malaysia and identify socio-demographic factors associated with awareness.
methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from March-November 2014 in the form of a telephone survey. Participants aged 40 years and above were randomly selected across Malaysia and interviewed using the validated Awareness Beliefs about Cancer (ABC) measurement tool. Linear regression was conducted to test the association between symptom and risk factor recognition and socio-demographic variables.
resultsA sample of 1895 participants completed the survey. On average, participants recognised 5.8 (SD 3.2) out of 11 symptoms and 7.5 (SD 2.7) out of 12 risk factors. The most commonly recognised symptom was 'lump or swelling' (74.5%) and the most commonly recognised risk factor was 'smoking' (88.7%). Factors associated with prompted awareness were age, ethnicity, education and smoking status.
conclusionRecognition of symptom and risk factors for most cancers was relatively low across Malaysia compared to previous studies in high-income countries and to studies conducted in Malaysia. There is a need to conduct regular public health campaigns and interventions designed to improve cancer awareness and knowledge as a first step towards increasing the early detection of cancer.
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