11616 Background: Advances in therapy and early detection, by population-based screening in particular, have significantly increased the number of patients cured from cancer. However, cancer patients’ chances of being cured varies strongly from one cancer to another. We studied the understanding of the concept of cure in the lay population and the factors associated with believing that cancer can be cured. Methods: The French nationwide observational survey, EDIFICE 6, was conducted online (June 26-July 28, 2017) on a core sample of 12 046 individuals (age, 18-69y). Representativeness was ensured by quota sampling on age, sex, profession, and stratification by geographical area/type of urban district. This analysis focused on understanding of the meaning of cure in breast (BC), cervical (CC), colorectal (CRC), lung (LC) and bladder (BLC) cancer for individuals with no history of cancer. Results: The majority of respondents believed that cure exists (BC 95%; CC 91%; CRC 89%; BLC 87%, LC 71%). Some agreed with the definition that cure is the disappearance of the disease (BC 42%; CC 38%; CRC 35%; BLC 33%, LC 25%), while others preferred the definition that cure is several years without disease (BC, CC 53%; CRC, BLS 54%; LC 46%). More men than women (P < 0.05) believed that cure exists for CRC, BLC and LC. Socially non-vulnerable individuals were more likely to believe in cure than their vulnerable counterparts (P < 0.05), as were individuals aged 50-69y (P < 0.05) versus those of 18-50y, and for all cancer types except LC. In multivariate analysis, the variable “clinical research enables progress” was correlated with believing that cure exists (BC, OR = 2.93; CC, OR = 1.86; CRC, OR = 2.22; LC, OR = 1.57, BLC, OR = 2.06), as was “progress is rapid” (BC, OR = 1.61; CC, OR = 1.66; CRC, OR = 1.7; LC, OR = 1.84; BLC OR = 1.68), and also social non-vulnerability. However, the variables “prevention”, respectively screening/treatments, “are important for cancer control” had a low impact on the belief in cure (OR~1). Conclusions: The lay population is relatively optimistic about the cure for cancer. Confidence in the existence of cure relies on medical progress. However, factors related to individual behavior, e.g., prevention and screening, did not affect the perception of cure.
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