| Popis |
In recent years, an increase in cancer incidence has been observed among younger age groups, including children, adolescents, and young adults. Prevention therefore plays a crucial role in reducing the cancer burden, with both awareness of risk factors and warning signs, as well as health-related behaviors, representing key intervention points. Adolescence is a developmental stage in which these habits and attitudes are shaped, yet evidence indicates that adolescents’ awareness in this area remains limited. Findings from studies included in a systematic review show that adolescents’ knowledge about cancer is uneven. While risks associated with smoking and alcohol consumption are relatively well recognized, awareness is considerably lower regarding unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity, or overweight. Similarly, knowledge of warning signs—such as changes in the skin, non healing wounds, unexplained bleeding, or persistent cough—remains limited. Psychological barriers, including fear, embarrassment, and uncertainty, also play an important role, as they may lead to delays in seeking medical help. A specific area of concern is awareness of HPV and vaccination, where results are highly variable; however, educational interventions have proven effective in increasing preventive intentions. The analysis also highlights substantial variability in the research instruments used. The most frequently employed tool was the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM), which was in some cases adapted for adolescent populations. Other studies relied on self-developed questionnaires based on existing literature, though information about their validity or reliability was often lacking. This methodological inconsistency reduces the comparability of findings and underscores the need for standardized, age-appropriate, and psychometrically validated instruments that can provide more accurate mapping of knowledge and support the design of effective prevention strategies. At the conference, key findings from the reviewed studies will be presented, emphasizing the necessity of targeted and age-appropriate preventive interventions. Such programs should simultaneously promote healthy lifestyles, strengthen adolescents’ health literacy, and address psychological barriers to seeking professional help. Furthermore, the results point to the importance of developing valid and reliable tools for assessing cancer awareness among adolescents, which would enable more precise monitoring of knowledge levels and facilitate the planning of preventive strategies with long-term benefits for the health of future generations.
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