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J. Elgood



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    G02 - Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC) Session: Deserve Better - Expect Better: Advocating for Better Outcomes for Lung Cancer Patients (ID 15)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Other Sessions
    • Track: Nurses
    • Presentations: 1
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      G02.1 - Public Awareness of Lung Cancer Symptoms - The GLCC/IPSOS MORI 2013 International Consumer Poll (ID 439)

      16:15 - 17:45  |  Author(s): J. Elgood

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
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      Abstract
      Introduction Ipsos MORI were commissioned by the Global Lung Cancer Coalition to explore the prevalence of smoking within countries; and awareness of the symptoms of lung cancer. Two questions were asked: 1. Can I just check, do you consider yourself to be: a) A current smoker – i.e. someone who is a regular smoker at the present time; b) A former smoker – i.e. someone who used to smoke regularly but has quit; c) Someone who has never smoked – i.e. someone who has never smoked at all, or only very occasionally in the past (less than 100 cigarettes in your lifetime); d) Don’t know. 2. There are many warning signs and symptoms of lung cancer. Please name as many symptoms of lung cancer as you can think of.[1] A quantitative survey was conducted across: Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the USA. This abstract outlines the headline findings[2]. Methodology A nationally representative quota sample for each country of 500–1,204 adults was interviewed from 2 June – 16 August 2013[3], using Omnibus services (please note the lowest age varied slightly between countries)[4]. Face-to-face in-home interviewing was used in Bulgaria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Portugal and Spain, and telephone (CATI[5]) interviewing elsewhere (in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the USA). Data have been weighted to the known adult population profile of each country. Please also note that booster surveys took place in Mexico, Norway, Sweden and Slovenia to boost the number of smokers in order to allow robust comparisons. In each country, data were weighted back to the original profile of smokers and non-smokers to ensure that smokers were not over-represented. Discussion of findings: where is smoking prevalence highest? Of all the 21 countries surveyed, people in Bulgaria are most likely to be current smokers (41%), followed by Spain (33%) and France (30%). The lowest proportions of current smokers are found in Sweden (12%) and Australia (13%). Egypt, however, has the highest proportion of people who have never smoked at all (70%). Figure 1 Spontaneous awareness of the symptoms of lung cancer The combined results from all countries show that breathlessness (40%) and coughing (39%) are the most frequently recognised symptoms of lung cancer. Other symptoms relating to coughing, as well as general or unspecified coughing, are also commonly mentioned: coughing blood (17%), a cough that doesn’t go away (14%), and a cough that gets worse (8%). Tiredness or a lack of energy (13%) and an ache or pain when coughing or breathing (11%), are spontaneously mentioned by more than one in ten people as well. It should also be recognised that approaching one in four could not name any symptoms, instead stating that they didn’t know (23%). Figure 2 Spontaneous awareness varies significantly by country. For example, fewer than one in four Japanese adults mention breathlessness (22%), compared to a high of 56% in Ireland. Likewise, whilst 27% state tiredness or a lack of energy to be a symptom of lung cancer in Bulgaria, only 5% of Australians do the same. The following table shows the most frequently mentioned symptoms in each country. Breathlessness is the symptom respondents are most commonly aware of in fifteen countries, with general or unspecified coughing emerging more frequently in the other six.

      Country Most frequently mentioned Second most frequently mentioned Third most frequently mentioned
      Argentina Breathlessness (31%) A cough (26%) Tiredness or lack of energy (12%)
      Australia Breathlessness (53%) A cough (37%) Coughing blood (32%)
      Bulgaria Breathlessness (50%) Coughing blood (37%) A cough that gets worse (30%)
      Canada Breathlessness (49%) A cough (45%) Coughing blood (20%)
      Denmark Breathlessness (51%) A cough (48%) An ache or pain when coughing or breathing (20%)
      Egypt Breathlessness (25%) Persistent chest infections (23%) A cough (15%)
      France A cough (54%) Breathlessness (37%) A cough that doesn't go away (25%)
      Germany Breathlessness (36%) Coughing blood (34%) A cough that doesn't go away (31%)
      Great Britain Breathlessness (46%) A cough (43%) Coughing blood (27%)
      Ireland Breathlessness (56%) A cough (56%) Coughing blood (27%)
      Italy Breathlessness (42%) A cough that doesn't go away (32%) A cough (29%)
      Japan A cough (50%) Breathlessness (22%) A cough that doesn't go away (21%)
      Mexico A cough (33%) Breathlessness (27%) An ache or pain when coughing or breathing (10%)
      Netherlands Breathlessness (45%) A cough (45%) Tiredness or lack of energy (13%)
      Norway Breathlessness (47%) A cough (40%) Chest and/or shoulder pains (9%)
      Portugal Breathlessness (35%) A cough (33%) Tiredness or lack of energy (18%)
      Slovenia A cough (52%) Breathlessness (31%) Coughing blood (10%)
      Spain A cough (29%) Breathlessness (25%) Tiredness or lack of energy (20%)
      Sweden A cough (46%) Breathlessness (42%) Tiredness or lack of energy (10%)
      Switzerland A cough (53%) Breathlessness (43%) An ache or pain when coughing or breathing (12%)
      USA Breathlessness (38%) A cough (37%) Coughing blood (14%)
      When analysing the mean number of potential symptoms of lung cancer mentioned in each country depending on whether respondents are current smokers, former smokers, or have never smoked at all, awareness appears to be fairly consistent. Please note that people who said that they did not know any symptoms have been excluded from this analysis. The following table highlights within each country which of the three groups has the highest mean score (i.e. the most mentions of symptoms per respondent). The key finding from this is that current smokers often mention fewer symptoms of lung cancer than former smokers or people who have never smoked. In three countries (France, Ireland and Portugal), current smokers do appear to have a greater awareness of potential symptoms, whilst in Sweden, current and former smokers have the same mean score.
      Mean number of mentions of symptoms of lung cancer per respondent (who named at least one symptom)
      Country Current smokers Former smokers Never smokers
      Argentina 1.97 1.97 2.11
      Australia 2.04 2.47 2.28
      Bulgaria 3.63 4.18 3.97
      Canada 2.57 2.53 2.77
      Denmark 2.39 2.34 2.43
      Egypt 3.09 3.32 3.32
      France 2.54 2.53 2.40
      Germany 3.02 3.66 3.69
      Great Britain 2.77 2.89 2.75
      Ireland 3.21 2.99 2.94
      Italy 2.46 2.53 2.43
      Japan 2.41 2.55 2.67
      Mexico 1.98 1.84 2.00
      Netherlands 1.99 2.19 2.24
      Norway 1.86 2.14 2.18
      Portugal 2.61 2.54 2.43
      Slovenia 2.35 2.46 2.16
      Spain 2.13 2.30 2.13
      Sweden 1.98 1.98 1.89
      Switzerland 1.94 2.31 2.23
      USA 1.93 1.97 2.01
      [1] A pre-coded list was provided for interviewers to code responses. Respondents were able to code multiple responses. [2] Please note that at this stage the findings are based on interim data. [3] The base sizes in each country were as follows: Argentina (500), Australia (1,000), Bulgaria (1,148), Canada (1,005), Denmark (650), Egypt (1,009), France (953), Germany (1,073), Great Britain (957), Ireland (1,000), Italy (510), Japan (1,204), Mexico (600), Norway (529), Portugal (1,203), Slovenia (580), Spain (500), Sweden (550), Switzerland (510), the Netherlands (1,004), and the USA (1,000) [4] The lowest age for each country is as follows: Germany: 14 years; Australia, Ireland, Mexico and Norway: 15 years; Sweden: 17 years; Egypt and Japan: 20 years; all other countries: 18 years. [5] Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing

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