Identification of cancer risk and associated behaviour: implications for social marketing campaigns for cancer prevention

Abstract

Background: Community misconception of what causes cancer is an important consideration when devising communication strategies around cancer prevention, while those initiating social marketing campaigns must decide whether to target the general population or to tailor messages for different audiences. This paper investigates the relationships between demographic characteristics, identification of selected cancer risk factors, and associated protective behaviours, to inform audience segmentation for cancer prevention social marketing.

Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study (n = 3301) are derived from Cancer Council New South Wales' 2013 Cancer Prevention Survey. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between respondent demographic characteristics and identification of each of seven cancer risk factors; demographic characteristics and practice of the seven 'protective' behaviours associated with the seven cancer risk factors; and identification of cancer risk factors and practising the associated protective behaviours, controlling for demographic characteristics.

Results: More than 90% of respondents across demographic groups identified sun exposure and smoking cigarettes as moderate or large cancer risk factors. Around 80% identified passive smoking as a moderate/large risk factor, and 40-60% identified being overweight or obese, drinking alcohol, not eating enough vegetables and not eating enough fruit. Women and older respondents were more likely to identify most cancer risk factors as moderate/large, and to practise associated protective behaviours. Education was correlated with identification of smoking as a moderate/large cancer risk factor, and with four of the seven protective behaviours. Location (metropolitan/regional) and country of birth (Australia/other) were weak predictors of identification and of protective behaviours. Identification of a cancer risk factor as moderate/large was a significant predictor for five out of seven associated cancer-protective behaviours, controlling for demographic characteristics.

Conclusions: These findings suggest a role for both audience segmentation and whole-of-population approaches in cancer-prevention social marketing campaigns. Targeted campaigns can address beliefs of younger people and men about cancer risk factors. Traditional population campaigns can enhance awareness of being overweight, alcohol consumption, and poor vegetable and fruit intake as cancer risk factors.

Keywords: Cancer; Risk factors; Social marketing.

Fig. 1

How much does spending time outdoors during peak UV times without sun protection contribute to a person’s risk of getting cancer? Responses by respondent demographic characteristics

Fig. 2

How much does smoking cigarettes contribute to a person’s risk of getting cancer? Responses by respondent demographic characteristics

Fig. 3

How much does passive smoking contribute to a person’s risk of getting cancer? Responses by respondent demographic characteristics

Fig. 4

How much does being overweight contribute to a person’s risk of getting cancer? Responses by respondent demographic characteristics

Fig. 5

How much does drinking alcohol contribute to a person’s risk of getting cancer? Responses by respondent demographic characteristics

Fig. 6

How much does not eating enough vegetables contribute to a person’s risk of getting cancer? Responses by respondent demographic characteristics

Fig. 7

How much does not eating enough fruit contribute to a person’s risk of getting cancer? Responses by respondent demographic characteristics

Fig. 8

How much do each of the following things contribute to a person’s risk of getting cancer? Summary of responses for seven risk factors

Fig. 9

Percentage of respondents with ‘protective’ behaviour, by respondent demographic characteristics: sunsafe

Fig. 10

Percentage of respondents with ‘protective’ behaviour, by respondent demographic characteristics: non-smoker

Fig. 11

Percentage of respondents with ‘protective’ behaviour, by respondent demographic characteristics: avoid passive smoke

Fig. 12

Percentage of respondents with ‘protective’ behaviour, by respondent demographic characteristics: healthy weight

Fig. 13

Percentage of respondents with ‘protective’ behaviour, by respondent demographic characteristics: lower-risk alcohol intake

Fig. 14

Percentage of respondents with ‘protective’ behaviour, by respondent demographic characteristics: five or more vegetable serves daily

Fig. 15

Percentage of respondents with ‘protective’ behaviour, by respondent demographic characteristics: two or more fruit serves daily

Fig. 16

Percentage of respondents with ‘protective’ behaviour, by respondent demographic characteristics: summary of seven ‘protective’ behaviours