Identification of cancer risk and associated behaviour: implications for social marketing campaigns for cancer prevention

Background: Community misconception of what causes cancer is an important consideration when devising
communication strategies around cancer prevention, while those initiating social marketing campaigns must decide
whether to target the general population or to tailor messages for different audiences. This paper investigates the
relationships between demographic characteristics, identification of selected cancer risk factors, and associated
protective behaviours, to inform audience segmentation for cancer prevention social marketing.
Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study (n = 3301) are derived from Cancer Council New South Wales’ 2013
Cancer Prevention Survey. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to investigate the
relationship between respondent demographic characteristics and identification of each of seven cancer risk factors;
demographic characteristics and practice of the seven ‘protective’ behaviours associated with the seven cancer risk
factors; and identification of cancer risk factors and practising the associated protective behaviours, controlling for
demographic characteristics.
Results: More than 90% of respondents across demographic groups identified sun exposure and smoking
cigarettes as moderate or large cancer risk factors. Around 80% identified passive smoking as a moderate/large risk
factor, and 40–60% identified being overweight or obese, drinking alcohol, not eating enough vegetables and not
eating enough fruit. Women and older respondents were more likely to identify most cancer risk factors as
moderate/large, and to practise associated protective behaviours. Education was correlated with identification of
smoking as a moderate/large cancer risk factor, and with four of the seven protective behaviours. Location
(metropolitan/regional) and country of birth (Australia/other) were weak predictors of identification and of
protective behaviours. Identification of a cancer risk factor as moderate/large was a significant predictor for five out
of seven associated cancer-protective behaviours, controlling for demographic characteristics.
Conclusions: These findings suggest a role for both audience segmentation and whole-of-population approaches
in cancer-prevention social marketing campaigns. Targeted campaigns can address beliefs of younger people and
men about cancer risk factors. Traditional population campaigns can enhance awareness of being overweight,
alcohol consumption, and poor vegetable and fruit intake as cancer risk factors.