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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).

Kent and Medway Cancer Network (KMCN) commissioned Explain to carryout on-street interviews using the cancer awareness measurement (CAM) tool. The survey took place in March 2010 within three Primary Care Trusts (PCTs); NHS Medway, NHS West Kent and NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent. The main objectives of the research were to better understand the level of public knowledge of cancer signs and symptoms and to help KMCN plan interventions and campaigns to raise awareness of risk factors. The results will also provide KMCN with information to benchmark against in the future.

Further information about the CAM may be found on the Cancer Research UK Cancer Awareness Measures (CAMs) web page.

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