Japanese attitudes to cancer: part 2 of 2
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[The Cabinet Office Japan recently published the results of a survey they performed into cancer issues.
Demographics
Between the 13th and 23th of September 2007 3,000 adults selected at random from the whole Japanese population were visited for the purpose of face-to-face interviews. 1,767 people, or 58.9% were available and consented to be interviewed. 53.6% were female, 9.4% were in their twenties, 16.6% in their thirties, 15.1% in their forties, 19.9% in their fifties, 21.6% in their sixties, and 17.3% aged seventy or older. Furthermore, 74.3% had either themselves had cancer or had had family, relations or close colleagues who had experienced cancer.
I’d not heard about a national cancer registry before, but some searching on the internet revealed this overview on what the national cancer registries are used for in the UK.
Most Westerns will be surprised by Q13 where less than a third say that the government should put effort into cancer prevention, even though tobacco was specifically mentioned and in Q2 most quitting smoking was chosen as the measure most people had taken to reduce their risks. The reasons for this include that Japanese see smoking as a personal choice, not something that the government should be getting involved in, although given that the government owns a majority stake in Japan Tobacco, it’s already in the cancer business.
Research results
The respondents were shown a card explaining what a second opinion was, then asked the following question.
Q7: Did you know about a second opinion regarding cancer treatments? (Sample size=1,767)
Know it well 29.5% Just heard the term 23.8% Don’t know about it 46.2% Don’t understand 0.5% Q8: If you were diagnosed with cancer and needed treatment, do you think a second opinion would be needed? (Sample size=1,767)
Needed 63.8% Perhaps needed 17.7% Can’t say either way 8.9% Perhaps not needed 3.1% Not needed at all 2.5% Don’t know 4.0% Q9: Do you know of the Cancer Screening Hospital Counseling and Support Centre? (Sample size=1,767)
Have used it 1.1% Know of it, but not used it 19.1% Don’t know it 78.8% Don’t understand 1.0% The respondents were shown a card that explained what palliative care is, then asked the following question.
Q10: Which of the following do you know about regarding palliative care? (Sample size=1,767, multiple answer)
Thought it only applied to terminal patients 25.1% Thought it was something available only at hospitals, etc 19.7% Thought it only applied to pain or other physical symptoms 13.2% Already sufficiently understood the meaning 9.8% Thought it wasn’t something concurrent with other treatment, but a separate treatment in itself 4.0% Other 0.2% Only heard the term before 22.8% Didn’t know the term 27.8% Don’t understand 1.2% The respondents were shown a card that explained what the cancer registry is, then asked the following question.
Q11: Did you know about the cancer registry? (Sample size=1,767)
Know it well 2.8% Just heard the term 10.5% Didn’t know about it 85.6% Don’t understand 1.1% Q12: In countries such as the USA, Denmark and Sweded there are national cancer registries, but currently in Japan there are just a few local ones. Assuming that personal information is protected, do you think a national cancer registry in needed for Japan? (Sample size=1,767)
Think so 28.2% Perhaps think so 26.3% Can’t say either way 26.9% Perhaps think not 6.2% Don’t think so at all 7.4% Don’t understand 5.0% Q13: What measures regarding cancer should the government put effort into? (Sample size=1,767, multiple answer)
Early detection of cancer (cancer screening) 61.3% Education on cancer for specialist health care providers 45.4% Establishment of facilities for cancer treatment 49.1% Provide cancer-related information 36.6% Cancer-related research 34.6% Cancer-related consulation and support 40.4% Cancer prevention (including tobacco and lifestyle-related diseases) 31.2% Palliative care 29.8% Surgical treatment 24.6% Chemotherapy 21.6% Radiation therapy 19.0% Other cancer treatment methods 16.6% Cancer registry 15.3% Other 3.1% Nothing in particular 3.8% Don’t know 1.5%
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