Author of

• 31253

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  P2.10 - Prevention and Tobacco Control (ID 176)

  • Event: WCLC 2019
  • Type: Poster Viewing in the Exhibit Hall
  • Track: Prevention and Tobacco Control
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 9/09/2019, 10:15 - 18:15, Exhibit Hall

  • 31269

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    P2.10-15 - Lung Cancer and Smoking Related Myths Among General Population: Do We Need to Make People More Aware? (ID 2480)

    10:15 - 18:15  |  Presenting Author(s): Shubham Roy
    • Abstract

    Background
    

    With increasing incidence of lung cancer, there are various myths regarding lung cancer and smoking related facts among general population. Myths in present digital era spread like wildfire and can be harmful to people. This study was conducted to know general population perception about myths and facts related to smoking and associated lung cancer.

    Method
    

    This survey was conducted at various places in Delhi-NCR about the various facts and myths about smoking and associated lung cancer among general public. People were asked to complete the survey with response from strongly agree to strongly disagree. There were 18 questions on general myths regarding smoking and lung cancer in the questionnaire.

    Result
    

    Among 2571 participants, 67.9% and 57.6% people accepted that radiation from mobile tower and tea in plastic cups can cause lung cancer respectively. Smoking cannot cause lung cancer if diet rich in anti-oxidants is consumed was strongly agreed by 62.8% people because it prevent lung cancer. Almost 25% people strongly agreed that Hukka & E-Cigarettes are less harmful than normal cigarettes. Participants aged 50 year and above strongly agreed that cancer treatment has more side effects then benefits (0.016), Food cooked in microwave oven can cause cancer (p= 0.001), Smoking once and twice in a month don’t cause Cancer (p= 0.029). Less educated people strongly agreed with most of the myths such as smoking once and twice in a month don’t cause Cancer (0.02), Sugar makes cancer worse (0.008), E-Cigarettes are less harmful then cigarettes (0.002), Hukka is safe as smoke get filtered by water (0.001). However, participants with family history of cancer knows about these myths and they don’t believe that E-Cigarettes are less harmful then cigarettes (p= .006), Sugar makes cancer worse (0.001), only smokers get lung cancer (0.038), no family history of cancer makes you safe from cancer (p= 0.002).

    Conclusion
    

    There is an urgent need to make people aware regarding smoking related facts and myths along with lung cancer risk factors, symptomatology, screening, diagnosis and treatment. There is a need of more frequent population based lung cancer awareness program to make general population more informed about the lung cancer.