Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) was developed in 2007-8 to address the absence of a validated measure of general public awareness of cancer (Stubbings, S., Robb, K., Waller, J., Ramirez, A., Austoker, J., Macleod, U., Hion, S., and Wardle, J. (2009) 'Development of a measurement tool to assess public awareness of cancer', British Journal of Cancer, 101(2), S13-S17.).The survey includes measures of awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer, cancer risk factors, age-related risk, screening programmes and potential barriers to seeing the GP. Since then, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has significantly revised and updated the survey, including a wider range of questions and collecting data online instead of face-to-face. The CAM was also previously known as the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative Cancer Awareness Measure (NAEDI-CAM).
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. Initial data collection using the CAM has taken the form of two surveys, from which datasets are available through the UKDA: a survey of the general British population undertaken as part of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Opinions Survey (formerly the ONS Omnibus Survey), and a survey of the six largest ethnic minority groups in England (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Caribbean, African and Chinese) undertaken by Ethnibus. These surveys were carried out in 2008 and provide a baseline against which to evaluate policy initiatives designed to improve awareness. It is expected that the surveys will be repeated in 2012. Also planned are a series of regional initiatives in the UK, and surveys involving specific types of cancer. Further information about the CAM may be found on the Cancer Research UK Cancer Awareness Measures (CAMs) web page.
Main Topics:
ONS Opinions Survey: One-stage stratified or systemic random sample;Ethnibus survey: Quota sample
Face-to-face interview
