Attitudes toward alcohol, cancer risk
A concerningly low percentage of U.S. adults may be aware of the cancer risk associated with alcohol consumption.
In a research letter published in JAMA Oncology, researchers asked more than 6,700 participants to answer questions regarding their alcohol-related behaviors and beliefs.
The researchers discovered that just over 37% of the respondents were aware that drinking alcohol could increase the risk of cancer, whereas the majority of the respondents either didn’t know the risks of alcohol consumption or thought the habit had no effect on cancer risk. In addition, the respondents who stated that cancer is nonfatal or not preventable, consumed alcohol in the past month, were current smokers or had a lower level of educational attainment were more likely to express uncertainty or disbelief regarding whether cancer was linked to alcohol intake.
The researchers noted that misunderstanding the health risks associated with alcohol consumption could lead to continued excessive drinking habits among U.S. adults. Clinicians were advised to address patient misbeliefs to improve adherence to recent alcohol consumption guidelines.
Read more: JAMA Oncology
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