Abstract
To explore cross-sectional adherence to cancer prevention recommendations by adults enrolled in a prospective cohort in Alberta, Canada. Questionnaire data were used to construct a composite cancer prevention adherence score for each participant, based on selected personal recommendations published by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (2007). Data were self-reported on health and lifestyle, past-year physical activity and past-year FFQ. The scores accounted for physical activity, dietary supplement use, body size, and intakes of alcohol, fruit, vegetables and red meat. Tobacco exposure was also included. Scores ranged from 0 (least adherent) to 7 (most adherent). Alberta's Tomorrow Project; a research platform based on a prospective cohort. Adult men and women (n 24 988) aged 35-69 years recruited by random digit dialling and enrolled in Alberta's Tomorrow Project between 2001 and 2009. Of the cohort, 14 % achieved adherence scores ≥5 and 60 % had scores ≤3. Overall adherence scores were higher in women (mean (sd): 3·4 (1·1)) than in men (3·0 (1·2)). The extent of overall adherence was also associated with level of education, employment status, annual household income, personal history of chronic disease, family history of chronic disease and age. Reported adherence to selected personal recommendations for cancer prevention was low in this cohort of adults. In the short to medium term, these results suggest that more work is required to identify behaviours to target with cancer prevention strategies at a population level. Future work will explore the associations between adherence scores and cancer risk in this cohort.
Highlights
Of 31 212 participants enrolled in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP), the following were excluded from the current analyses: second in household recruit (n 382), outside age range of 35–69 years at enrolment (n 46), pregnant women (n 65), BMI
Adherence to the selected WCFR/AICR personal recommendations was highest for alcohol consumption (88 %), while adherence to the tobacco exposure recommendation was lowest (15 %)
Over the past two decades, several organizations have published a series of recommendations that aim to provide guidance on strategies for cancer risk reduction based on modifiable behavioural risk factors
Summary
Study population Between 2001 and 2009, ATP enrolled 31 212 Albertans aged 35–69 years, with no personal history of cancer other than non-melanoma skin cancer, into a cohort. Participants were recruited by random digit dialling using Regional Health Authority boundaries as the sampling frame. In the first recruitment wave, a second eligible adult within each household was recruited (n 382, 1 %) if possible; but this practice was discontinued in subsequent recruitment waves[15]. Recruits were mailed an information package and were considered enrolled if they returned a completed Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire (HLQ) and signed consent form. Participants received two additional questionnaires assessing past-year dietary habits and physical activity. Response rate to the random digit dialling call has been estimated at 32 %(15) and response rate of those individuals to enrolment was 49 %
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