Awareness of cancer prevention and treatment knowledge and related factors in residents in Tianjin, a survey based on WeChat official account

ObjectiveTo understand the awareness of cancer prevention knowledge and related factors in residents who are active in WeChat use in Tianjin.

MethodsAccording to the theory of cross-sectional survey, a WeChat-based electronic questionnaires were conducted in the residents who frequently use this social software in Tianjin in November, 2017. Convenient sampling was conducted and the data were analyzed with univariate and multivariate non conditional logistic regression models.

ResultsThe awareness rate of cancer prevention knowledge was 59.4% for residents who active in WeChat use in Tianjin. The awareness rate differed with gender, age, registered permanent residence, degree of education, occupation, the differences were significant (all P＜0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being female, young age, urban registration, degree of higher education, being office workers might be the positive factors for the awareness of cancer prevention and treatment knowledge after adjustment for other factors.

ConclusionThe WeChat official account based survey indicated that the awareness of cancer prevention and treatment knowledge in residents in Tianjin was influenced by gender, age, registered permanent residence, degree of education and occupation. Effective public health education through new media is necessary to improve the people’s awareness rate of cancer prevention and treatment knowledge.