Survey: Americans consider cancer nation's top health care challenge

Americans consider cancer the most significant health care challenge in the United States, according to results of the Mayo Clinic National Health Checkup survey.

The Mayo Clinic National Health Checkup — designed to gauge consumers’ health opinions and behaviors — surveyed 1,008 adults in the United States via telephone from July 28 to 31.

Respondents answered questions about health challenges in the country, how much progress they felt modern medicine is making to treat these conditions, and which health care–related concerns would influence their decision to vote for a specific presidential candidate.

John T. Wald

Among the key findings:

More than one-third (37%) of respondents indicated cancer is the leading health care challenge, followed by obesity, neurological diseases, diabetes and infectious diseases.
Thirty-eight percent of survey respondents identified brain cancer as the “scariest” type of cancer, followed by pancreatic cancer (20%), lung cancer (10%), breast cancer (8%), prostate cancer (7%), colon cancer (5%) and skin cancer (5%).
Approximately 84% of indicated they would be interested in a vaccine to prevent cancer, if one existed.
Although respondents identified cancer as the most significant health challenge in the country, 74% indicated the felt progress was being made to address the problem.

HemOnc Today spoke with John T. Wald, MD, a neuroradiologist and medical director for marketing and public affairs at Mayo Clinic, about the survey results and their potential implications.

Question: What is the purpose of the Mayo Clinic National Health Checkup?

Answer: Though Mayo Clinic is known for cutting-edge research and innovation, our hallmark for 150 years has been taking the time to listen to our patients. This survey extends that same mindset outside the walls of our institution to all health consumers. It is only through effective listening that providers begin to understand their patients and together define the best tailored treatments or health/wellness plans.

Q: What was the most surprising survey response ?

A: The most surprising thing from the survey was not necessarily one particular answer, but rather the overall savviness of American health consumers. From cancer to affordable high-quality health care to sleep requirements, Americans surveyed had a pretty good sense of the opportunities and challenges before them.

Q: What are the clinical implications of these results?

A: Through this survey, we are beginning to see the level of engagement most Americans have with their own health care. They are beginning to see the gaps and opportunities in medicine, especially in diseases like cancer. This allows providers to continue to engage their patients as partners in their health care and to deliver care in a less paternalistic fashion. Understanding gaps in awareness is also important to focus education of the public in certain areas like vaccines. Though 86% of those surveyed said they would be interested in receiving a vaccine for cancer, only 40% of eligible females and less than 10% of eligible males have received the HPV vaccine, leaving them vulnerable to HPV associated cancers.

Q: What factors could attribute to Americans believing cancer is the most significant health care challenge?

A: Of all diseases, cancer seems to be the one that gets the most media attention, has the most public awareness and fundraising events, and still carries the greatest risk of suffering — in terms of pain and morbidity — and death in the health consumer’s mind. Most of us have known someone who has suffered from cancer or died of the disease. The recently initiated national cancer moonshot initiative reinforces the sense that we still have a long way to go to win the war on cancer. Americans are also aware that there is not one simple answer for the cure of cancer. We do have a long way to go to cure all types of cancer; therefore, we need to continue to push for federal and private funding for cancer research. We also must leverage the concerns expressed by health consumers to continue to educate them on the importance of diet and prevention.

Q: Do you think this survey could have an effect on the national cancer moonshot initiative?

A: This survey could hopefully remind those leading the cancer moonshot initiative that it is critically important that we include the health consumer/patient perspective in all aspects of this survey. For any program to be effective, we must have engagement of the general public. This survey suggests that Americans from all walks of life are engaged in their health care and looking for solutions.

Q: Why do you think brain cancer was the ‘scariest’ of cancers, especially considering b reast, lung and prostate cancers are the most prevalent in the U nited States ?

A: There is likely a number of reasons for brain cancers being rated as the ‘scariest’” of all cancers. First, educated health consumers know that the 5-year survival rate for malignant brain tumors, or glioblastoma multiforme, is extremely poor. The time from diagnosis to death is typically less than 1 year. Contrast this with a 5-year survival rate for all forms of breast cancer of around 91%. Risk for other forms of cancer can also be decreased by lifestyle changes, such as avoiding smoking or alcohol. Up to 20% of cancers are preventable and attributable to the combined effects of excess alcohol, poor nutrition, physical activity and excess weight. Unfortunately, we have not seen similar preventative links in brain cancer. We are beginning to see opportunities to deliver more effective treatments for brain tumors through the use of proton beam therapy, individualized medicine and regenerative medicine techniques.

Q: What is the next step for the survey team?

A: We will continue to review the survey results and, as appropriate, share the results both internally and externally to enhance the ability to better partner patients, health consumers and providers. As a national and international health care provider ... it is imperative that we understand our patient’s perspective. These survey results contribute to that overall knowledge base, not only for our patients but for all prospective patients. Medical education is important not only for providers, but also for patients. This survey helps us identify those gaps and opportunities to better educate all Americans. – by Kristie L. Kahl

For more information:

John T. Wald, MD, can be reached at newsbureau@mayo.edu.

Reference:

Mayo Clinic National Health Check-Up. Available at: healthcheckup.mayoclinic.org/?_ga=1.49324514.594878661.1473871715. Accessed on Sept. 25, 2016.

Disclosures: Wald reports no relevant financial disclosures.