The recognition rate of cancer prevention rules is high, but the practice rate is low...This week's practice rate is on the decline
Mar 20, 2025
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Since the first enactment of the 10th National Cancer Prevention Rules in 2006, the National Cancer Center has been monitoring the public's perception and practice of cancer prevention rules every two to three years based on the Cancer Control Act since 2007.
The top 10 cancer prevention rules of the National Cancer Center are ▲ Do not smoke, avoid smoking others ▲ Eat enough vegetables and fruits, and eat balanced meals with a variety of diets ▲ Do not eat salty food and do not eat burnt food ▲ Do not drink a cup or two a day to prevent cancer ▲ Walk or exercise more than 5 times a week, 30 minutes a day, sweaty enough ▲ Maintain a healthy weight suitable for your physique ▲ Get vaccinated against hepatitis B and cervical cancer according to the vaccination guidelines ▲ Live a safe sex life to avoid exposure to sexually transmitted diseases ▲ Follow safety and health rules at the workplace to avoid exposure to carcinogens
Based on the results of the most recent face-to-face survey of 4,000 citizens in 2023, this study comprehensively analyzed the long-term changes since 2007.
As a result of the study, thanks to various promotions and efforts to raise public awareness of cancer prevention rules, the recognition rate was quite high at 79.4% for men and 81.2% for women, but the practice rate was only half with 43.1% for men and 48.9% for women.
There were also differences between men and women in items that were difficult to implement. Women responded that it was difficult to keep the items 'maintain a healthy weight' and 'Eat enough vegetables fruits, eat balanced meals' while men responded that it was difficult to practice the items'Avoid a small drink or two a day' and'Do not smoke cigarettes, and avoid smoking by others'.
This difference was also reflected in the change in practice rate. In particular, the difference between men and women was most noticeable in the categories of 'Do not smoke and avoid smoking other people's cigarette smoke' and 'Avoid a small drink or two a day to prevent cancer'. In the case of smoking cessation, the female practice rate was quite high, but only half of the male practice rate was.
According to the analysis of the long-term trend, men's smoking cessation practice rate decreased by 2.4% per year from 2007 to 2014, but continued to increase by 2.6% per year from 2014 to 2023. This coincides with a policy change in which the government raised the price of cigarettes by 2,000 won from 2,500 won to 4,500 won in the same year, expanded the total indoor non-smoking area, and introduced a warning picture of cigarette packs. The researchers interpreted the government's strong anti-smoking policy as having a positive effect on rebounding from the declining smoking cessation practice rate.
On the other hand, it was found that both men and women have been continuously decreasing in the practice rate of abstaining from alcohol. The researchers pointed out Korea's tolerant culture of drinking, the impact of liquor marketing, and the absence of alcohol regulation as the main reasons, stressing the need for changes in social perception and policy intervention.
"It is already well known that there are differences between men and women in health behavior, but the important point is that men know what life habits are for cancer prevention, but they do not lead to practice compared to women," said Kim Byung-mi, head of the Cancer Prevention Project. "As the World Health Organization also said that 30-50% of cancer cases can be prevented through healthy lifestyles, it is imperative to create a social atmosphere and make efforts to induce the practice of healthy lifestyles."
Meanwhile, the study was published in the latest issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Health, an SCIE-level journal in epidemiology.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
