Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
The Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) is a survey designed to assess public awareness of cancer warning signs/symptoms, cancer risk factors and barriers to help seeking. Data have been collected every two years from 2008 to 2017 from a representative face to face sample of the population of Great Britain via the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Opinions and Lifestyle Survey. Data have traditionally been collected via face-to-face in-home interviews. In 2017 a parallel run of data collection was undertaken to explore whether it would be possible to move data collection online. The results of this work revealed that samples collected via online and face to face methods were largely similar, with slight differences in participant characteristics, awareness of cancer signs and symptoms and barriers to help seeking. Based on this work, CAM data has been collected online from 2019 (see SN 8751).Patients with cancer in the UK tend to present with more advanced disease and have poorer survival rates than their European counterparts. One of the work streams set out in the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI), which was established under the Department of Health's Cancer Reform Strategy for improving cancer outcomes, has focused on developing a validated standardised measure for the general population, comprising a set of questions designed to reliably assess cancer awareness.The purpose of the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) is to facilitate accurate and sensitive surveillance of public awareness of cancer over time, identify information needs, and monitor the impact of campaigns promoting cancer awareness and early presentation. It helps to develop an in-depth understanding of current awareness, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours in relation to cancer.Further information about the CAM, including findings and guidance on the use of CAM, may be found on the Cancer Research UK Cancer Awareness Measures (CAMs) webpage.
Main Topics:
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)
Face-to-face interview
