Gastric cancer risk factors knowledge in Mexican population. LEGACy 3A

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer incidence, and fourth in mortality worldwide. The LEGACy study is a multi-institutional study between Europe and Latin America, that aims to integrate epidemiological, multi-omics and clinical data from GC patients. But also, wants to determine the grade of knowledge of established GC risk factors and identification of attitudes about, GC screening programs at baseline, before the intervention through an educational program. Here, we present the results corresponding to Mexico.

This is an interventional study, with a pre-post study design to determine the grade of knowledge of established GC risk factors in the open population. A twenty-question, multiple-choice questionnaire was used, inquiring about general knowledge, risk factors, symptoms, and prevention of GC. After the questionnaire, the educational intervention was carried out through a video and a brochure. One month later, the subject was interviewed again. The results are summarized in relative frequencies, measures of central tendency, and dispersion for the various variables; inferential statistics of hypothesis testing were used to determine p values and estimates for the 95% confidence intervals in the comparison of proportions, considering p < 0.05 as the significant statistical difference; the analysis was performed with the SPSS v26.0 package.

A total of 400 people between 18 and 87 years of age were surveyed, 56% of whom were women. Of these, 51% had a higher educational level. The baseline results were as follows: 37% had knowledge about gastric cancer, and 35% considered the possibility of having gastric cancer. Although 33% of the respondents were 50 years of age or older, only 3% had undergone a screening test. 37% considered gastric cancer could be hereditary. 23% considered that sex could be a risk factor, while >70% associated obesity, physical inactivity, salty or fried foods, smoking, and alcohol as risk factors. After the educational intervention, the percentage of knowledge about this type of cancer increased up to 80% (p < 0.0001). In addition, the number of patients who underwent an early detection test doubled.

In Mexico, GC is the 6th cause of cancer-related death. At the Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia, 71.4% of GC patients are in IVB stage.This study shows that less than half of the people with higher education interview have knowledge of GC, and screening tests are minimal. However, after an educational intervention, the knowledge of the surveyed population improved, so it is relevant to promote and advertise educational programs at the first level of care.

LEGACy 3-A Mexico.

The authors.

The project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research innovation programme under grant agreement No GA825832 Mexico received funding from Convocatoria CONACyT Unión Europea-CELAC No. 297681.

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.