Cancer incidence in Malaysia is expected to double by 2040. Understanding cancer awareness is important in order to tailor preventative efforts and reduce the cancer burden. The objective of this research was to assess nationwide awareness about the signs and symptoms as well as risk factors for various cancers in Malaysia and identify socio-demographic factors associated with awareness. This cross-sectional study was conducted from March–November 2014 in the form of a telephone survey. Participants aged 40 years and above were randomly selected across Malaysia and interviewed using the validated Awareness Beliefs about Cancer (ABC) measurement tool. Linear regression was conducted to test the association between symptom and risk factor recognition and socio-demographic variables. A sample of 1895 participants completed the survey. On average, participants recognised 5.8 (SD 3.2) out of 11 symptoms and 7.5 (SD 2.7) out of 12 risk factors. The most commonly recognised symptom was ‘lump or swelling’ (74.5%) and the most commonly recognised risk factor was ‘smoking’ (88.7%). Factors associated with prompted awareness were age, ethnicity, education and smoking status. Recognition of symptom and risk factors for most cancers was relatively low across Malaysia compared to previous studies in high-income countries and to studies conducted in Malaysia. There is a need to conduct regular public health campaigns and interventions designed to improve cancer awareness and knowledge as a first step towards increasing the early detection of cancer.

中文翻译：

---

马来西亚的癌症症状和风险因素意识：一项全国性横断面研究的结果。

到 2040 年，马来西亚的癌症发病率预计将翻一番。了解癌症意识对于制定预防措施和减轻癌症负担非常重要。这项研究的目的是评估全国对马来西亚各种癌症的体征和症状以及风险因素的认识，并确定与认识相关的社会人口因素。这项横断面研究于 2014 年 3 月至 11 月以电话调查的形式进行。年龄在 40 岁及以上的参与者在马来西亚随机选择，并使用经过验证的癌症意识信念 (ABC) 测量工具进行采访。进行线性回归以测试症状和风险因素识别与社会人口变量之间的关联。1895 名参与者的样本完成了调查。一般，参与者识别出 11 个症状中的 5.8 个（标准差 3.2）和 12 个风险因素中的 7.5 个（标准差 2.7）。最常见的症状是“肿块或肿胀”（74.5%），最常见的危险因素是“吸烟”（88.7%）。与提示意识相关的因素是年龄、种族、教育和吸烟状况。与之前在高收入国家的研究和在马来西亚进行的研究相比，马来西亚对大多数癌症的症状和风险因素的认识相对较低。有必要定期开展旨在提高癌症意识和知识的公共卫生运动和干预措施，作为提高癌症早期发现的第一步。最常见的症状是“肿块或肿胀”（74.5%），最常见的危险因素是“吸烟”（88.7%）。与提示意识相关的因素是年龄、种族、教育和吸烟状况。与之前在高收入国家的研究和在马来西亚进行的研究相比，马来西亚对大多数癌症的症状和风险因素的认识相对较低。有必要定期开展旨在提高癌症意识和知识的公共卫生运动和干预措施，作为提高癌症早期发现的第一步。最常见的症状是“肿块或肿胀”（74.5%），最常见的危险因素是“吸烟”（88.7%）。与提示意识相关的因素是年龄、种族、教育和吸烟状况。与之前在高收入国家的研究和在马来西亚进行的研究相比，马来西亚对大多数癌症的症状和风险因素的认识相对较低。有必要定期开展旨在提高癌症意识和知识的公共卫生运动和干预措施，作为提高癌症早期发现率的第一步。与之前在高收入国家的研究和在马来西亚进行的研究相比，马来西亚对大多数癌症的症状和风险因素的认识相对较低。有必要定期开展旨在提高癌症意识和知识的公共卫生运动和干预措施，作为提高癌症早期发现的第一步。与之前在高收入国家的研究和在马来西亚进行的研究相比，马来西亚对大多数癌症的症状和风险因素的认识相对较低。有必要定期开展旨在提高癌症意识和知识的公共卫生运动和干预措施，作为提高癌症早期发现的第一步。