Screening practices of cancer survivors and individuals whose family or friends had a cancer diagnoses—a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Japan (INFORM Study 2020)

• Published in: Journal of cancer survivorship Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 663 - 676
• Main Authors: Akiyama, Miki, Ishida, Noriyuki, Takahashi, Hiroyasu, Takahashi, Miyako, Otsuki, Aki, Sato, Yasunori, Saito, Junko, Yaguchi-Saito, Akiko, Fujimori, Maiko, Kaji, Yuki, Shimazu, Taichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Breast; Cancer screening; Cancer Survivors; Cervical cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis; Early Detection of Cancer; Friends; Health Informatics; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Health risks; Humans; Japan; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mass Screening; Medical diagnosis; Medical screening; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Primary Care Medicine; Prostate cancer; Prostate-Specific Antigen; Prostatic Neoplasms; Public Health; Quality of Life Research; Risk perception; Subgroups; Surveys; Survival; Japan; Cancer diagnosis in friend; Cancer diagnosis in family; Cancer survivor; Screening behavior; Cancer screening; Health belief model
• ISSN: 1932-2259; 1932-2267
• DOI: 10.1007/s11764-023-01367-4

Purpose We examined cancer screening practices and related beliefs in cancer survivors and individuals with family or close friends with a cancer diagnosis compared to individuals without the above cancer history for 5 population-based (gastric, colorectal, lung, breast, cervical) and 1 opportunistic (prostate) cancer screenings using nationally representative cross-sectional survey in Japan. Methods We analyzed 3269 data from 3605 respondents (response rate, 37.1%) and compared the screening beliefs and practices of cancer survivors ( n  = 391), individuals with family members ( n  = 1674), and close friends with a cancer diagnosis ( n  = 685) to those without any cancer history ( n  = 519). Results Being a cancer survivor was associated with screening for gastric (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.04–2.95), colorectal (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03–2.36), and lung cancer (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.10–2.66) but not breast, cervical cancer or PSA test. Having a family cancer diagnosis was associated with colorectal and lung cancer screening. Having friends with a cancer diagnosis was associated with PSA test. Cancer survivors and family members perceived themselves as being more susceptible and worried about getting cancer than individuals without any cancer history. Cancer survivors strongly believed screening can detect cancer and were more likely to undergo screening. Subgroup analysis indicated an interrelation between gastric and colorectal cancer screening among survivors. Conclusions A cancer diagnosis in oneself or family or friend influences an individual’s health-related belief and risk perception, which can increase the likelihood of cancer screening. Implications for Cancer Survivors Targeted and tailored communication strategies can increase awareness of cancer screening.