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).
The CAM has been included in the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OLS) which is an omnibus survey ran by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Data has 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 will be collected online from 2019.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:
The Cancer Awareness Measure is a questionnaire designed to assess awareness of cancer among the general population. The measure includes awareness of warning signs and symptoms, risk factors, attitudes towards help-seeking, awareness of the link between cancer and age, and awareness of the NHS bowel screening programme. The CAM can be used at national levels in Great Britain to monitor awareness over time, compare awareness and attitudes between groups, identify information needs, and monitor the impact of awareness-raising interventions.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
