[Objective] To understand cancer prevention related knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among family members of cancer patients in Tianshan and Hongqiao Communities of Shanghai and provide baseline information for developing community-based cancer prevention and control approaches.
[Methods] A total of 268 residents having family members diagnosed tumor from 1st January, 2008 to 31st December, 2009 were inivited to the suvey in Tianshan and Hongqiao communities of Shanghai. Data was collected by trained interviewers and analyzed by SPSS (version 11.5).
[Results] The rates of correct answers to knowledge, attitude and practice on tumor prevention were 90.0%, 85.0% and 79.5% respectively. Gender, occupation and education levels were important covariates to knowledge, attitudes and practices on tumor prevention. Knowledge and attitude were correlated, but both showed no such effect to practices. The main channels to recieve the knowledge of cancer prevention were TV program, newspaper, magazine, relatives and friends.
[Conclusion] Family members of cancer patients are high risk population of tumor occurrence. Education on cancer prevention and control is an important approach. Various community-based health education strategies should be developed to take the advantage of community channels and community practitioners.