P1.01-010 Awareness of Lung Cancer Risk Factors among Lay Persons and Physicians

Abstract

Tobacco consumption, and more specifically active smoking, remains the main risk factor for lung cancer (LC) and continues to be the target of awareness campaigns worldwide. However, in recent decades, other risk factors have been identified, including passive smoking, atmospheric pollution and occupational exposure. This analysis focuses on awareness of LC risk factors among the lay population and physicians. The 4th French nationwide observational survey, EDIFICE 4, was conducted by phone interviews of a representative sample of 1602 subjects, aged between 40 and 75 years, from June 12 to July 10, 2014. A mirror survey was also conducted by phone among physicians between July 9 and August 8, 2014. Both surveys were conducted using the quota method on representative samples of 1602 lay persons and 301 physicians. The following analyzes were conducted amongst 1463 lays persons with no history of cancer and 301 physicians. Interviewees were asked to cite the five main risk factors for LC. LC risk factors associated with tobacco in general were widely cited in first position by both physicians and the lay population (100% and 96%, respectively; P≤0.01), with the role of active smoking (100% vs 94%, P≤0.01) and passive smoking (77% vs. 68%, P≤0.01) clearly identified. Twice as many physicians cited asbestos as a risk factor, ranking it in second place, compared with the lay population (77% vs. 30%, P≤0.01). Atmospheric pollution was cited to the same degree by physicians and the lay population (49% vs. 43%, P=0.05), the latter ranking it second. Heredity and family history came fourth (32% vs. 13%, P≤0.01) and alcohol fifth (13% vs. 10%, not statistically significant), in both populations. Infections and other respiratory disorders were cited by less than one person in ten (7%). Poor dietary habits were very rarely cited by either physicians or the lay population (<1% vs 4%, respectively, P≤0.01). The awareness of risk factors for lung cancer is broadly consistent with the established risk factors, among both physicians and the lay persons in our survey. As expected, tobacco was ranked first, followed by atmospheric pollution and asbestos, though the latter is less present in the mind of the lay population compared to physicians. It is noteworthy that even among physicians, a history of respiratory disorders was only marginally acknowledged.