Pediatric cancer knowledge: Assessment of knowledge of warning signs and symptoms for pediatric cancer among Brazilian community health workers

Abstract

Background. Field workers and lay community health educators are often children’s first opportunity for correctly recognizing and responding to early signs and symptoms of pediatric cancers. Inadequate familiarity with the warning signs and symptoms of childhood cancer results in delayed referral to a physician for diagnosis and treatment.Methods. This pilot study assessed community health workers’ baseline level of knowledge about childhood cancers. Community health workers from Brazil completed a pediatric cancer knowledge questionnaire.Results. Although all respondents knew to refer a child suspected to have cancer to a physician, their knowledge of the early warning signs and symptoms of pediatric cancer was very low.Conclusions. The findings demonstrate a link between training and knowledge and confirm the need for targeted education in the warning signs and symptoms of pediatric cancer for community health workers in developing countries.