Lung Cancer Risk Perception Among Older Smokers: a Cross-sectional Study

Background: Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers around the world. Also, scientific evidence proves the considerably lower lung cancer risk perceptions of smokers compared to non-smokers. Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the risk perception of smokers about their risk to contract lung cancer and their perceptions about lung cancer survival. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the data were collected from 215 smokers in Tabriz, Iran, between April 2019 and July 2019. The data collection tool was designed, using validated questionnaires and contained questions on the perceived risk of smokers to develop lung cancer and their perception of lung cancer survival. A general linear model was conducted to model the relationship of risk perception with underlying predictors considering a significance level of 0.1. Results: The results of modeling indicated that perceived susceptibility (P-Sus) was negatively related to "years smoked" in simple regression (B = -0.035, P = 0.069) and multiple regression (B = -0.069, P = 0.007). P-Sus was also negatively related to the variable "age" in the age category of 45 to 50 years (B = -1.981, P = 0.046). Moreover, perceived severity (P-Sev) was negatively related to the variable "sex" (B = -1.037, P = 0.068). The results of the Spearman correlation indicated significant and direct correlations between "quitting intention" and P-Sus (r = 0.296, P < 0.001), P-Sev (r = 0.162, P = 0.009). Conclusions: Lung cancer risk perception of participants was moderately above the average and significant correlations were observed between "quitting intention" and "P-Sus" and "P-Sev" and "Risk Perception score". This could be utilized in developing educational programs to promote awareness about lung cancer, especially for smokers.