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Ovarian cancer symptom awareness and anticipated time to help-seeking for symptoms among UK women
  1. Emma L Low1,
  2. Jo Waller2,
  3. Usha Menon3,
  4. Annwen Jones4,
  5. Frances Reid5,
  6. Alice E Simon6*
  1. 1PhD Student, Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
  2. 2Senior Research Associate, Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
  3. 3Professor of Gynaecological Cancer (UCL Institute of Women's Health) and Consultant Gynaecologist (UCLH NHS Trust), Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
  4. 4Chief Executive, Target Ovarian Cancer, London, UK
  5. 5Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Target Ovarian Cancer, London, UK
  6. 6Senior Research Associate, Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
  1. Corresponding author Ms Emma L Low, Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1–19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK; e.low@ucl.ac.uk

Abstract

Objectives To determine levels of awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms and to identify barriers to help-seeking and predictors of a longer time to help-seeking in a UK female population-based sample.

Methods A UK population-based sample of women [n=1000, including a subsample of women at higher risk due to their age (≥45 years, n=510)] completed the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Measure by telephone interview. Questions measured symptom awareness (using recall and recognition), barriers to medical help-seeking and anticipated time to help-seeking. Regression analyses identified predictors of a higher score on a scale of anticipated time to help-seeking.

Results Most women (58% overall sample; 54% subgroup) were unable to recall any symptoms but 99% recognised at least one. Recognition was lowest for difficulty eating and persistently feeling full. In the sample overall, higher socio-economic status and higher endorsement of practical and service barriers independently predicted a longer anticipated time to help-seeking for more symptoms. White ethnicity was an additional predictor in the older subgroup.

Conclusions This study suggests awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms is low in the UK, and varies widely between symptoms. It identifies variables that may be involved in a longer time to help-seeking for possible ovarian cancer symptoms and highlights the need for more in-depth research into the factors related to time to help-seeking in real-world situations.

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 3.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

https://doi.org/10.1136/jfprhc-2012-100473

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