{"title":"Exploring the Correlation Between Health Literacy and Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Radiotherapy Among Japanese Women: A Web-Based Survey.","authors":"Masanari Minamitani, Kosuke Morishima, Atsuto Katano, Shingo Ohira, Keiichi Nakagawa","doi":"10.1007/s13187-024-02432-x","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Health literacy (HL) plays a vital role in an individual's ability to make informed health decisions. Japan faces several challenges in cervical cancer control, including low human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening rates, underutilization of radiotherapy, and limited HL. This study explored the association between HL and knowledge of cervical cancer and radiotherapy, particularly among young Japanese women. We conducted a web-based survey among users of LunaLuna, a popular women's healthcare application, to assess their HL and knowledge about cervical cancer and radiotherapy through a 46-question survey. We compared three groups in terms of HL (inadequate, problematic, and sufficient & excellent). Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with knowledge. In total, 1468 respondents were included in this study. HL was positively correlated with knowledge scores (inadequate: 51.8%; problematic: 56.3%; sufficient & excellent: 60%). Participants displayed relatively low accuracy for treatment-related questions. Higher HL (β = 0.15, p < 0.01), education (β = - 0.11, p < 0.01), cervical cancer screening (β = - 0.11, p < 0.01), income (β = 0.09, p < 0.01), and employment (β = - 0.06, p = 0.04) were significant factors affecting knowledge of cervical cancer and radiotherapy. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of HL in promoting cervical cancer prevention and providing a better understanding of radiotherapy. Despite factors such as age, education, and history of cervical cancer screening, HL showed the strongest association with knowledge of cervical cancer and radiotherapy. The enhancement of HL and knowledge dissemination may be critical for promoting cervical cancer prevention and radiotherapy in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":50246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Cancer Education","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-024-02432-x","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Health literacy (HL) plays a vital role in an individual's ability to make informed health decisions. Japan faces several challenges in cervical cancer control, including low human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening rates, underutilization of radiotherapy, and limited HL. This study explored the association between HL and knowledge of cervical cancer and radiotherapy, particularly among young Japanese women. We conducted a web-based survey among users of LunaLuna, a popular women's healthcare application, to assess their HL and knowledge about cervical cancer and radiotherapy through a 46-question survey. We compared three groups in terms of HL (inadequate, problematic, and sufficient & excellent). Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with knowledge. In total, 1468 respondents were included in this study. HL was positively correlated with knowledge scores (inadequate: 51.8%; problematic: 56.3%; sufficient & excellent: 60%). Participants displayed relatively low accuracy for treatment-related questions. Higher HL (β = 0.15, p < 0.01), education (β = - 0.11, p < 0.01), cervical cancer screening (β = - 0.11, p < 0.01), income (β = 0.09, p < 0.01), and employment (β = - 0.06, p = 0.04) were significant factors affecting knowledge of cervical cancer and radiotherapy. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of HL in promoting cervical cancer prevention and providing a better understanding of radiotherapy. Despite factors such as age, education, and history of cervical cancer screening, HL showed the strongest association with knowledge of cervical cancer and radiotherapy. The enhancement of HL and knowledge dissemination may be critical for promoting cervical cancer prevention and radiotherapy in Japan.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Cancer Education, the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education (AACE) and the European Association for Cancer Education (EACE), is an international, quarterly journal dedicated to the publication of original contributions dealing with the varied aspects of cancer education for physicians, dentists, nurses, students, social workers and other allied health professionals, patients, the general public, and anyone interested in effective education about cancer related issues.
Articles featured include reports of original results of educational research, as well as discussions of current problems and techniques in cancer education. Manuscripts are welcome on such subjects as educational methods, instruments, and program evaluation. Suitable topics include teaching of basic science aspects of cancer; the assessment of attitudes toward cancer patient management; the teaching of diagnostic skills relevant to cancer; the evaluation of undergraduate, postgraduate, or continuing education programs; and articles about all aspects of cancer education from prevention to palliative care.
We encourage contributions to a special column called Reflections; these articles should relate to the human aspects of dealing with cancer, cancer patients, and their families and finding meaning and support in these efforts.
Letters to the Editor (600 words or less) dealing with published articles or matters of current interest are also invited.
Also featured are commentary; book and media reviews; and announcements of educational programs, fellowships, and grants.
Articles should be limited to no more than ten double-spaced typed pages, and there should be no more than three tables or figures and 25 references. We also encourage brief reports of five typewritten pages or less, with no more than one figure or table and 15 references.