Knowledge and Perceptions about Cancer in the Adult Population of the Primary Care Center in Arequipa and Tacna, Peru

Abstract

Currently, strategies exist to improve cancer coverage; however, there are barriers to prevention at the primary care level. Therefore, it is important to understand the knowledge and perceptions of the adult population regarding cancer to identify problems and propose appropriate actions. Objective: To describe the knowledge and perceptions about cancer among the adult population at the primary care level in Arequipa and Tacna. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. One hundred and twenty-six individuals from two Level I health centers in Arequipa and Tacna, after providing informed consent, answered a questionnaire of 10 closed-ended questions taken from validated instruments, with complementary open-ended sections. Results: 126 of the 154 people contacted were included in the study; 42.9% identified the cancer specialist; 23.8% knew the most common cancer in Peru; 57.1% knew the concept of risk factors, but only 45.8% identified them correctly. 50% were aware of cancer vaccines, primarily those against the human papillomavirus (HPV). 66.7% had heard of chemotherapy, but 57.1% perceived it as unsafe. Radiotherapy was the most widely recognized alternative treatment. 54.8% considered cancer curable if detected early; 73.8% did not perceive it as a disability, although without clear justification. Conclusion: There are significant gaps in knowledge and perceptions regarding prevention, risk factors, treatment, curability, and specialized care. Furthermore, stigmas and misconceptions persist primarily concerning chemotherapy and cancer as inevitably fatal diseases.