Awareness of Cancer Among Japanese Junior and Senior High School Students and Relevant Factors.

Q2 Medicine

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention Pub Date : 2026-07-28 DOI:10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.6.2345

Yoko Minamiguchi, Kumi Suzuki, Yasuhiro Tsuda, Yuko Tomari, Ikue Shino, Masako Yamanaka, Naoko Hayashi, Eiko Yamauchi, Akiko Fukawa, Tomoki Doi, Yasuhito Fujisaka

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify cancer awareness among Japanese youths, identify relevant factors, and gain insight into effective educational interventions to prevent cancer and promote early detection in youths.

Methods: We conducted an anonymous, fact-finding questionnaire survey via the Internet, covering three modules of the Cancer Awareness Measure (cancer risk factors, cancer warning signs, and barriers to help-seeking), along with individual and environmental factors. Descriptive statistics were generated, and chi-squared tests and logistic regression analyses were performed to clarify the associations between cancer awareness and individual and environmental factors.

Results: In total, 612 junior and senior high school students were enrolled. The median (interquartile range) total score was 7 (4-10) for cancer risk factors, 0 (0-5) for cancer warning signs, and 4 (2-7) for barriers to help-seeking. Less than half of the students correctly recognized risk factors specific to cancer, such as human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections. As for barriers to help-seeking, many students pointed to emotional barriers such as fear (62.9%). Other major barriers to help-seeking were female gender (odds ratio [OR]=2.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.73, 4.53, p < 0.001), conversations with parents about cancer (OR=2.28, 95% CI: 1.28, 4.08, p = 0.005), and awareness of cancer warning signs (OR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.81, p = 0.003).

Conclusion: Japanese adolescents do not have sufficient awareness of cancer. In cancer education, it is necessary to clearly highlight cancer-specific risk factors and warning signs in an easy-to-understand manner, explain the importance of early detection, and consider the content of cancer-related conversations between children and parents.

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日本初高中学生对癌症的认知及相关因素

目的：本研究的目的是明确日本青少年的癌症意识，确定相关因素，并深入了解有效的教育干预措施，以预防癌症并促进青少年的早期发现。方法：我们通过互联网进行了一项匿名的事实调查问卷，涵盖了癌症意识测量的三个模块（癌症危险因素、癌症警告标志和寻求帮助的障碍），以及个人和环境因素。采用描述性统计、卡方检验和逻辑回归分析来阐明癌症意识与个体和环境因素之间的关系。结果：共纳入初高中在校生612人。癌症危险因素的中位数（四分位范围）总分为7分（4-10分），癌症警告标志的中位数（0-5分），寻求帮助的障碍的中位数（2-7分）。不到一半的学生正确认识到癌症特有的危险因素，如人乳头瘤病毒、乙型肝炎病毒和丙型肝炎病毒感染。至于寻求帮助的障碍，许多学生指出了情感障碍，如恐惧（62.9%）。寻求帮助的其他主要障碍是女性（优势比[OR]=2.80, 95%可信区间[CI]: 1.73, 4.53, p < 0.001），与父母谈论癌症（OR=2.28, 95% CI: 1.28, 4.08, p = 0.005），以及对癌症警告信号的认识（OR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.81, p = 0.003）。结论：日本青少年对癌症的认知不足。在癌症教育中，需要以通俗易懂的方式清晰地突出癌症特有的危险因素和警示信号，解释早期发现的重要性，并考虑儿童与家长之间癌症相关对话的内容。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 医学-肿瘤学

CiteScore

2.80

自引率

0.00%

发文量

779

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Cancer is a very complex disease. While many aspects of carcinoge-nesis and oncogenesis are known, cancer control and prevention at the community level is however still in its infancy. Much more work needs to be done and many more steps need to be taken before effective strategies are developed. The multidisciplinary approaches and efforts to understand and control cancer in an effective and efficient manner, require highly trained scientists in all branches of the cancer sciences, from cellular and molecular aspects to patient care and palliation. The Asia Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention (APOCP) and its official publication, the Asia Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (APJCP), have served the community of cancer scientists very well and intends to continue to serve in this capacity to the best of its abilities. One of the objectives of the APOCP is to provide all relevant and current scientific information on the whole spectrum of cancer sciences. They aim to do this by providing a forum for communication and propagation of original and innovative research findings that have relevance to understanding the etiology, progression, treatment, and survival of patients, through their journal. The APJCP with its distinguished, diverse, and Asia-wide team of editors, reviewers, and readers, ensure the highest standards of research communication within the cancer sciences community across Asia as well as globally. The APJCP publishes original research results under the following categories: -Epidemiology, detection and screening. -Cellular research and bio-markers. -Identification of bio-targets and agents with novel mechanisms of action. -Optimal clinical use of existing anti-cancer agents, including combination therapies. -Radiation and surgery. -Palliative care. -Patient adherence, quality of life, satisfaction. -Health economic evaluations.