A reflection on the relevance of attitudes towards cancer

Abstract

Cancer represents high rates of human morbidity and mortality and for this reason, its diagnosis has been object of diverse psychological responses, such as attitudes, which denote a tendency of favorability or unfavorability towards a specific entity. A review of the literature published between 2005 and 2017 on attitudes toward cancer, led to reflection on the importance they have for both patients and the general population and health professionals. In this way, presented in this reflection, the attitudes reported towards this disease, the way in which knowledge, beliefs, emotions and behaviors interact and the conclusions of a critical and analytical approach to these attitudes and their implications for professionals of the Health.

Keywords

• Affect
• Attitudes
• Behavior
• Emotion
• Knowledge
• Neoplasms