Assessing public awareness on the role of diet in cancer prevention

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 (Sung et al., 2021). The prevalence of cancers in Malta is increasing (Ministry for Health Malta, 2017). Various modifiable lifestyle factors, such as diet and physical activity, may help to minimize this. Individuals who are aware of cancer risk factors are more likely to adopt cancer prevention guidelines and therefore reduce their risk of developing cancer (Stein & Colditz, 2004). The aim of this study is to determine the Maltese public's knowledge of the significance of diet in cancer development. Method: An online questionnaire was used and participants were asked on the role of diet in cancer prevention. The demographic characteristics and screening awareness were analysed. Some questions were given a knowledge score and the mean knowledge was calculated according to the demographics. Moreover, any relationship between the mean knowledge scores of the terms ‘processed meat’, ‘dietary fibre’, ‘saturated fats’, and ‘cancer development statements’ were also analysed. The responses were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics v27.0. Results: From a total of (n= 191) participants, the majority of the respondents were female, from the region of Gozo, within the age range of 45-54 years, and with a tertiary or higher degree of education. In general, the participants had a decent understanding of cancer screening (n=182) and factors such as smoking (n=182) and sun exposure (n=161), however, knew less about food that can cause cancer, particularly about saturated fat sources (mean n=89). Furthermore, participants who had a good knowledge score on “foods high in saturated fat” also had good knowledge on the “cancer development statements” (p=0.003, r = 0.232). Conclusion: The sample population demonstrated mixed results with respect to knowledge on the role of diet in cancer prevention. Public health promotional strategies may play a role in shaping public opinion about cancer preventative measures especially with regards to diet. In the long run, specific health initiatives that lead to a greater knowledge of the risk of diet and improved prevention measures will be the most cost-effective and sustainable way to reduce the global burden of cancer.