Relationship between Health Literacy and Knowledge, Attitude, and Performance Regarding Cancer Warning Signs

Health literacy (HL) is considered a cancer‑preventive strategy. In addition, successin early diagnosis of cancer largely depends on individuals’ knowledge, attitude, and performanceregarding cancer warning signs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potentialrelationship between HL and Knowledge, Attitude, and Performance (KAP) regarding cancerwarning signs.

This descriptive‑correlational study was conducted on 280adults who were referred to 3 health centers in Tehran, Iran, from January to March 2020. Data werecollected using the Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA) and the researcher‑made KAPregarding cancer warning signs questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation testand linear regression in an adjusted model in the statistical package for social sciences software.

Total HL score was positively and significantly correlated with knowledge (r = 0.35;p </em>< 0.001), attitude (r = 0.17, p </em>= 0.003), and performance (r = 0.46, p </em>< 0.001). Moreover, aftercontrolling for potential confounders, a significant and positive relationship was found betweenHL and knowledge (â = 0.48; t275 = 4.45; p </em>< 0.001), attitude (â =0.17; t265 = 4.64; p </em>< 0.001), andperformance (â = 0.62; t265 = 8.23; p </em>< 0.001).

It seems that adults’ KAP regardingcancer warning signs can be promoted by increasing their HL. Therefore, greater attention shouldbe paid to individuals’ HL at community health centers when designing and performing programs toimprove their KAP regarding cancer warning signs.