Study title

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).

This survey was carried out in the London Borough of Lambeth using the nationally validated Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM). BMG Research conducted the survey on behalf of Lambeth Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the South East London Cancer Network (SELCN). A total of 2,298 interviews were conducted face-to-face with residents using CAPI (Computer Aided Personal Interviewing) technology. During interviewing, quotas were set for ward, age, and ethnicity and deprivation quintile to ensure the sample represented as closely as possible the population of Lambeth. The sample included a boost sample of 261 Black African residents, as the SELCN were particularly interested in the levels of awareness and perception of cancer amongst this ethnic community.

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