Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 14, 2011; 17(30): 3518-3525
Published online Aug 14, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i30.3518
Stomach cancer screening and preventive behaviors in relatives of gastric cancer patients
Jung Min Kang, Dong Wook Shin, Young Min Kwon, Sang Min Park, Min Sun Park, Jin Ho Park, Ki Young Son, Be Long Cho
Jung Min Kang, Dong Wook Shin, Young Min Kwon, Sang Min Park, Min Sun Park, Jin Ho Park, Ki Young Son, Be Long Cho, Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehangno, Jongno-Gu, 110-744 Seoul, South Korea
Author contributions: Kang JM was the main author; Shin DW designed the study and edited the manuscript; Kang JM, Shin DW and Kwon YM contributed to the data analysis and manuscript preparation; Park SM, Park MS, Park JH and Son KY provided support in the analysis of data and reviewed the manuscript; Cho BL supervised the whole research.
Supported by The research program was funded by the National Health Insurance Corporation
Correspondence to: Be Long Cho, MD, PhD, Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehangno, Jongno-Gu, 110-744 Seoul, South Korea. belong@snu.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-2-20722195 Fax: +82-2-7663276
Received: September 25, 2010
Revised: February 15, 2011
Accepted: February 22, 2011
Published online: August 14, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To investigate gastric cancer screening and preventive behaviors among the relatives of patients with gastric cancer [i.e., gastric cancer relatives (GCRs)].

METHODS: We examined the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005 (KNHANES III) database and compared the gastric cancer screening and preventive behaviors of GCRs (n = 261) with those of non-GCRs (n = 454) and controls without a family history of cancer (n = 2842).

RESULTS: The GCRs were more likely to undergo gastric cancer screening compared with the control group (39.2% vs 32.3%, adjusted odds ratio: 1.43, CI: 1.05-1.95), although the absolute screening rate was low. Dietary patterns and smoking rates did not differ significantly between the groups, and a high proportion of GCRs reported inappropriate dietary habits (i.e., approximately 95% consumed excessive sodium, 30% were deficient in vitamin C, and 85% were deficient in dietary fiber).

CONCLUSION: The gastric cancer screening and preventive behaviors of GCRs have yet to be improved. To increase awareness among GCRs, systematic family education programs should be implemented.

Keywords: Family history of cancer, Cancer relatives, Gastric cancer screening, Preventive behaviors, Cancer prevention