世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1][part 2]

Here’s an interesting and detailed survey from Cabinet Office Japan into cancer. I translated a similar survey from the Cabinet Office a couple of years ago.

Demographics

Between the 27th of August and the 6th of September 3,000 people were selected at random from all over the country to take part in face-to-face interviews. Of that number, 1,935 or 64.5% agreed to answer the questions in face-to-face interviews. 55.1% of the sample were female, 7.6% in their twenties, 15.4% in their thirties, 15.9% in their forties, 19.0% in their fifties, 23.3% in their sixties, and 18.7% aged seventy or older. Additionally, 44.7% were in employment, 11.2% self-employed, 3.9% worked for the family business, and 40.2% unemployed, including housewives, students and retired people. Of the unemployed, 61.9% were housewives (househusbands were not asked about) and the remaining 38.1% otherwise unemployed. Finally, 74.5% had either themselves or a family member, relative, workmate they were close to, etc, with cancer. 24.8% had not, and 0.8% didn’t know.

In Q14 I was surprised that cancer research came so low in people’s priorities for government action, and then lifestyle education even lower still.

Research results

All the respondents were shown a card describing what a “second opinion” is (the English term is used as is in Japanese) then asked the following.

Q7: Have you heard about a “second opinion” for cancer treatment? (Sample size=1,935)

Know about it well	29.7%
Just heard the term	27.5%
Don’t know the term	42.1%
Just don’t know	0.7%

Q8: If you were to be diagnosed with cancer, do you think a second opinion would be needed? (Sample size=1,935)

Needed	64.3%
Perhaps needed	25.3%
Perhaps not needed	3.2%
Not needed	2.7%
Don’t know	4.5%

All the respondents were shown a card describing what palliative care is (here, Japanese is used) then asked the following.

Q9: Regarding palliative care, which of the following do you agree with? (Sample size=1,935, multiple answer)

Thought it only applied to terminal patients	28.9%
Didn’t know much about it, just heard the term	23.6%
Thought it was only available at hospitals, other care facilities	23.0%
Thought it only applied to physical pain relief	19.6%
Already understood the meaning well enough	15.0%
Thought it was just an exclusive treatment, not carried out in conjuction with others	5.3%
Other	0.2%
Didn’t know the term	20.7%
Just don’t know	1.4%

Q10: Have you ever used a Cancer Screening Hospital Counseling and Support Centre? (Sample size=1,935)

Yes, have used	2.1%
No, but know about it well	5.2%
No, but have heard the term	22.6%
Not heard of it	69.4%
Just don’t know	0.7%

Q11: If you were to be diagnosed with cancer, would you want to attend a single facility or change facilities occasionally depending on symptoms? (Sample size=1,935)

Want to get treatment in just one facility	27.0%
Perhaps want to get treatment in just one facility	13.7%
Perhaps want to get treatment in several facilities	32.7%
Want to get treatment in several facilities	24.2%
Don’t know	2.4%

All the respondents were shown a card describing what the cancer register is then asked the following.

Q12: Did you know about the cancer register? (Sample size=1,935)

Know it well	4.0%
Just heard the term	9.7%
Don’t know the term	85.6%
Just don’t know	0.7%

Q13: 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=1,935)

Needed	34.2%
Perhaps needed	39.9%
Perhaps not needed	10.3%
Not needed	8.3%
Don’t know	7.3%

Q14: Which of the following measures should the government take regarding cancer? (Sample size=1,935, multiple answer)

Early diagnosis of cancer (cancer screening)	67.0%
Establish cancer treatment facilities	54.4%
Specialist education regarding cancer for health professionals	48.5%
Consultation, other support regarding cancer	45.5%
Offer infomation regarding cancer	41.8%
Cancer research	39.7%
Palliative care	36.4%
Surgical treatment methods	33.7%
Cancer prevention (regarding lifestyle choices such as smoking)	32.1%
Chemotherapy	30.3%
Radiation therapy	26.9%
Other cancer treatment methods	21.3%
Cancer register	21.2%
Other	2.7%
Nothing in particular	2.8%
Don’t know	0.9%

[part 1][part 2]