Effect of Perceived Economic Status on Knowledge about Cancer Prevention, Healthy Behaviors, and Cancer Check-up Rate in Japan

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  • Umihara Junko
    Department of Academic Quality and Development Office, Nippon Medical School
  • Nishikitani Mariko
    Department of Environmental Sciences, International College of Arts and Sciences, Fukuoka Women's University

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<p>Objective: The economic inequality gap in Japan has rapidly widened in recent years, and financial disparity has been reported to affect health status. The present study investigated a relationship between economic status and cancer knowledge, healthy behavior, and cancer check-up rates. </p><p>Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 6,004 residents of Yokohama City and Oyama City, Japan, randomly selected from the gender and age strata. Subjects aged between 35 and 65 were divided into 2 groups according to whether they perceived their economic status as affluent or not. </p><p>Results: Nearly 35% of the subjects answered that they did not consider themselves to be affluent. The subjects in this group had lower education levels and less regular employment, and fewer were married, compared with the affluent group. They also tended to have less knowledge about a healthy lifestyle, eat fewer vegetables, smoke, have an unhealthy body weight, and receive fewer cancer check-ups. We found strong correlations between relative economic satisfaction and cancer prevention knowledge, healthy lifestyle, and behaviors. People who did not perceive themselves as affluent tended to know less about cancer risks, have unhealthy diets and smoking habits, and receive fewer cancer check-ups. </p><p>Conclusion: A significant positive correlation exists between economic satisfaction and cancer prevention behaviors in Japan. Because economic dissatisfaction derives from a comparison with others, a reduction in social disparity may be necessary to increase cancer check-up rates and promote healthy lifestyles.</p>

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