Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) was developed in 2007-8 to address the absence of a validated measure of general public awareness of cancer (Stubbings, S., Robb, K., Waller, J., Ramirez, A., Austoker, J., Macleod, U., Hion, S., and Wardle, J. (2009) 'Development of a measurement tool to assess public awareness of cancer', British Journal of Cancer, 101(2), S13-S17.).The survey includes measures of awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer, cancer risk factors, age-related risk, screening programmes and potential barriers to seeing the GP. Since then, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has significantly revised and updated the survey, including a wider range of questions and collecting data online instead of face-to-face. The CAM was also previously known as the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative Cancer Awareness Measure (NAEDI-CAM).

As part of the wider cancer strategy, the NHS Cancer Action Team funded the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network (MCCN) to survey levels of cancer awareness in the local population. The MCCN subsequently commissioned the University of Liverpool to carry out this work. The aims of the survey were to contribute to the national picture of levels of cancer awareness and generate evidence to support MCCN strategies for identifying and addressing inequalities across the network. The survey used the nationally validated Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) which has been developed by a Cancer Research UK team to assess awareness of cancer amongst the general population. Respondents were identified from a random sample of 5,250 residents accessed through the edited versions on the Electoral Rolls for the MCCN region. The MCCN region includes seven Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) (Liverpool PCT, Warrington PCT, Wirral PCT, Halton and St Helens PCT, Knowsley PCT, Sefton PCT, Western Cheshire PCT).

Main Topics:

Simple random sample

Telephone interview