IMAS International presents alarming results and shows the need for action on the way to World Cancer Day
Vienna (OTS) – The most important study results at a glance:
• Study identifies the unchanged awareness-information gap: Since the last survey in October 2022, there has been little change in the information situation regarding cancer screening examinations; Austrians do not feel better informed since last year.
• Around a quarter of Austrians say they have never had a cancer screening.
• To promote preventive examinations, two fifths of Austrians consider a reminder SMS or a cover letter to be useful. Around a third prefer an invitation system with a reminder.
• 23 percent of the Austrian population aged 16 and over are of the opinion that smokers have no increased risk of developing cancer and 15 percent say that it depends on the dose
Vienna, January 29, 2024 – In the run-up to World Cancer Day on February 4th, IMAS International is presenting a comprehensive survey of Austrians’ cancer prevention behavior. The results, which were presented today in Vienna, provide an insight into the health awareness of the population. According to the study, two fifths of Austrians describe their health as “very good”, while another third rate it as “good”. It also shows that regular cancer screenings are very important for the majority of the population. On a 5-point scale, where 1 is considered “very important,” half of those surveyed gave it the top grade. However, the study reveals a significant discrepancy in the level of information about the relevant studies, as DDr. Paul Eiselsberg from the IMAS Institute emphasizes: “Despite the majority of Austrians’ good sense of information, there is a need for improvement: around one in six people feel that they are not at all or not well informed, which corresponds to a grade of 4 or 5 on the scale.”
Digitalization as a pioneer for improved pension participation
Julia Fuchs, from MSD Austria, underlines the central importance of digitalization as a driving force in cancer prevention in the press conference. She is committed to increasing awareness of preventive examinations and closing the “awareness-information gap”. Inspired by best practices in the catering industry, Fuchs suggests introducing reminder emails to increase preventive participation. According to the study, two fifths of Austrians aged 16 and over prefer a reminder SMS or a cover letter in order to attend the recommended preventative care appointment. These digital measures, including invitation systems and automatic appointment allocation, are intended not only to promote general preparedness, but also to specifically encourage young people to take part in preventive examinations.
Focus on early detection and innovative therapies
Dr. Philipp Jost, Professor of Oncology at MedUni Graz, presents insightful insights into the behavior of patients with regard to the timing of their doctor’s visit during a possible cancer illness and emphasizes the crucial importance of early detection. The renowned expert in molecular tumor therapy will present innovative therapy options at the press conference: “The early detection of cancers such as lung cancer, melanoma or breast cancer is invaluable. As an oncologist, I constantly experience in everyday clinical practice how a timely diagnosis significantly improves the patient’s chances of survival. Innovative therapies such as immunotherapy are opening up new avenues in cancer treatment. Awareness of the importance of preventive examinations must therefore become even greater among the population. Through the combination of improved early detection methods and innovative therapeutic approaches, we can together have a lasting impact on the healthcare system and successfully lead the fight against cancer.”
His professional expertise offers exciting perspectives for the future of cancer treatment by showing ways in which improved early detection and innovative therapeutic approaches can have a lasting impact on the healthcare system.
Lung cancer as a central challenge for the healthcare system
Data on cancer in Austria show that with around one in five cancer deaths (21%), lung cancer was the first cause of cancer-related death in men, and second only to breast cancer in women (17%). (1) An alarming finding In this context, the study shows that around a quarter of the population does not perceive an increased risk of cancer from smoking. However, former smokers increasingly cite the health and cancer risks associated with smoking as a reason for overcoming their addiction. Prof. Dr. comments on this topic. Bernd Lamprecht, specialist in pulmonology and head of the Pulmonary Medicine Clinic at the Kepler University Hospital Linz. He emphasizes the urgency of preventative measures and further explains: “The high number of smokers in Austria and the associated health risks, especially with regard to lung cancer, urgently require our attention. It is alarming that a quarter of the population is unaware of the increased risk of cancer caused by smoking. As President of the Austrian Lung Society, I would like to emphasize how important preventative measures are for lung cancer prevention. We need to raise awareness to curb smoking and reduce the number of lung cancer cases. Every single step towards a smoke-free society can save lives.”
The discussion about lung cancer and its prevention therefore occupies a central place in the current debate about the health of the Austrian population.
To the study
The study was carried out by IMAS International, Institute for Market and Social Analyzes GmbH. The interviews of 1,016 people took place from October 11th to November 5th, 2023. The respondents aged 16 and over were representative of the Austrian population and selected according to quotas for age, gender and region. The maximum fluctuation range for this group is +/- 3.1 percentage points at a significance level of 95.45 percent. Totals of percentage values that do not add up to exactly 100% result from rounding differences.
The most important conclusions from the study at a glance:
• Health status depends on age, education and income – health literacy
• People with very good health also put more effort into their health
• Awareness-information gap: The importance of cancer screening is strongly anchored in awareness, but there is a lack of information: from 53% awareness priority, the level of information slips to 25% (top box values)
• Age gap in cancer screening examinations is clear: the proportion of participants increases significantly with age
• Around a quarter do not believe there is an increased risk of cancer from smoking, but former smokers still cite the increased health and cancer risk associated with smoking as a reason for overcoming their addiction
• 29% check themselves regularly for signs of skin cancer; the decisive factors for active self-control are increasing age, higher education and income levels, and the participants’ previous preventive examinations
(1) Source: Statisk Austria (2022) Cancer in Austria
About MSD
For more than 130 years, MSD has been researching medicines and vaccines to combat the world’s major health problems. With the mission to improve the world and the lives of people and animals and to be one of the world’s leading research-based biopharmaceutical companies. The company is committed to health out of conviction. MSD is a leader in research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten humans and animals – such as cancer, viral and bacterial infectious diseases, immunological and chronic diseases, and animal diseases. MSD wants to extend and improve the lives of people with cancer and focus on the areas of prevention, early detection and reintegration after cancer. As a leading vaccine manufacturer, MSD is proud to help children and adults protect themselves from disease.
MSD is the short form of Merck Sharp & Dohme Ges.mbH, the Austrian subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., with headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey, USA and 70,000 employees worldwide. In Austria, MSD has around 1,000 employees at several locations.
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