BMC Medical Education (Oct 2024)

Perceptions and attitudes about the contribution of the environment to childhood cancer: a pilot study in a medical guild and undergraduate students

  • Lizet Jarquin-Yañez,
  • Eunice Tello Cruz,
  • Monica Imelda Martinez-Acuña,
  • Jaqueline Calderon-Hernandez

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05914-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Background Identifying and recognizing environmental risk factors for childhood cancer is crucial to prevent it. Medical guild are the first contact to monitor children’s health. Therefore, courses about the contribution of chemical toxins in the environment and health outcomes such as cancer should be included in their professional training. This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of a medical guild and undergraduate students in health sciences about the contribution of the environment to childhood cancer. Methods A pilot study was conducted, an online survey including thirteen questions was shared among medical guild members and undergraduate students in health sciences. Frequencies, percentages, and chi-square homogeneity tests were calculated to compare groups. Results Genetic factors ranked as the first possible cause of childhood cancer (88.2% medical guild and 97.7% undergraduate students). However, 70.6% of medical guild and 64.6% of undergraduate students reported that they have ever suspected that childhood cancer could be related to the environmental conditions in which children live. More than 95% of the participants reported that they would find it useful to have more knowledge about environmental risks and cancer. When data were analyzed by profession (medical guild) and academic year (undergraduate students), no significant differences were observed. Nonetheless, comparisons by academic discipline between undergraduate students, showed that a higher percentage of medicine and environmental sciences and health (over 98%) reported environmental exposure as risk factors associated with childhood cancer compared to 75% from physiotherapy, (p = 0.001). Conclusions In this study, the environmental contribution to childhood cancer is not clear among the medical guild and undergraduate students. They should be trained on the topic of cancer and the environment.

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