5101 - Crossed looks on lung cancer perception and knowledge from general public and physicians in France: results of a two-fold survey

Background

Recent reports suggested gaps in knowledge and misperceptions regarding lung cancer (LC) in the general public and physicians respectively. We aimed to further investigate the topic.

Methods

From February 21^st to March 22^nd, 2019, two online surveys were led in parallel among French people (n = 6001) and physicians (GP, n = 273; pulmonologists, n = 97; oncologists, n = 67). Questions aimed to assess people’s knowledge about LC prevalence, severity, diagnosis, management and treatments, early screening, as well of social stigma, and also understandings from physicians about public perception.

Results

LC was ranked as the 2nd most feared cancer (n = 1980; 33%) and perceived as very or extremely serious by 96% of people (n = 5760). Half of French people (n = 3360) declared knowing at least one other risk factor than tobacco, and except for asbestos (n = 5220; 87%), other potential risk factors were subjects to low to moderate levels of belief. The general population ranked LC as the 3^rd easiest cancer to diagnose among French people (n = 2220; 37%) and 57% (n = 3420) believed that diagnosis was made early after symptoms onset. The general population was not aware of the majority of the symptoms beside blood in the sputum and respiratory symptoms. LC was ranked only the 5^th cancer (n = 1260; 21%) among those for which medical progress had been the most substantial, whereas physicians ranked it second (n = 201; 46%). Also the public was not aware of therapeutic progress as immunotherapy. Physicians tended to be more optimistic about actual treatment improvement than the public and for 90% of them (n = 393), systematic screening of at-risk population would have a significant impact on mortality data by LC.

Conclusions

Our study confirms the substantial gaps in LC knowledge from the general public and highlights several venues for improvement of communication and public awareness on LC in France.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

AstraZeneca.

Funding

AstraZeneca.

Disclosure

J. Cadranel: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Boerhinger Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Takeda. C. Chouaid: Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy: GSK; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Sanofi Aventis; Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy: Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen. J.B. Stern: Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Fees for presentation in a Medtronic symposium which were donated to our association.: Medtronic. A. Vergnenegre: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Research grant / Funding (institution): Chugai; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: Teva; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy: Clovis Oncology. C. Cortot: Full / Part-time employment: AstraZeneca. L. Guery: Full / Part-time employment: AstraZeneca. K. Belkhiria: Full / Part-time employment: AstraZeneca. I. De la Porte: Full / Part-time employment: AstraZeneca. M. Urbieta: Full / Part-time employment: AstraZeneca. M. Perol: Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: AstraZeneca. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.