What is it about?
Aim of research: To learn about older people’s beliefs about the importance of preventive oncology care, individual’s responsibility for getting cancer, and the etiology of cancer. We analyzed the association between beliefs about cancer and the age of the respondents. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in 2012 with a sample of 910 adult residents of Wrocław. An interview questionnaire was used. The article presents data on older adults (aged older than 56 years) (N = 188).
Featured Image
Why is it important?
The vast majority of respondents recognize the need to engage in preventive oncology care. Only 5% of respondents hold fatalistic beliefs, 50% of older adults believe that “if someone is sick with cancer, it does not depend on them”. An association was confirmed that the oldest adults (65 years and older) are more likely to agree with the above statement, 34% disagree with the belief that “if someone is sick with cancer it depends largely on the lifestyle and the environment”.
Perspectives
In developing strategies for cancer prevention aimed at older adults, special attention should be paid to raising awareness about the impact of lifestyle on cancer incidence, increasing the sense of responsibility for their health, and reducing older adult’s “external locus of control” beliefs.
Ph.D. Małgorzata Synowiec-Piłat
Wroclaw Medical University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Older people’s beliefs on prevention and etiology of cancer in Poland. Implications for health promotion, Anthropological Review, January 2015, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1515/anre-2015-0022.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
