BACKGROUND: Irish Travellers are a minority ethnic group with 11-15 years' shorter life expectancy than the general population. The HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) surveyed general population cancer awareness (2022). This study examined differences in smoking/vaping, awareness of smoking-related risk factors for cancer and cancer signs between Travellers and general population.
METHODS: A survey of Travellers, adapted from the NCCP’s National Survey on Cancer Awareness, was conducted by Traveller Community Health workers in partnership with Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre; results were compared with the NCCP survey.
RESULTS: 483 Travellers /2874 general population participated. Daily/occasional smoking was higher in Travellers (35.4% vs 16.5%; p<0.001), higher in Traveller males than females (44% vs 32%; p<0.05). Similar numbers reported (unprompted) smoking as a risk factor for cancer (82.8% vs 87.8%), while higher proportions of Travellers unprompted identified passive smoking (38.5% vs 10.2%; p<0.001). Travellers agreed/strongly agreed that smoking can only cause cancer if you are a long-term heavy smoker (46.6% vs 25.5%; p<0.001), with similar rates by age. Fewer agreed/strongly agreed that a former smoker can get cancer even after long-term quitting (70.2% vs 83.8%; p<0.001); this belief was greater in older Travellers (≥35 years (73.7%) vs 18-34 years (64.9%; p=0.025) and in females (74.1% vs 62.6%; p=0.014). More Travellers vaped daily (12% vs 8%). Lower numbers of Travellers than general population recognised ongoing cough (31.2% vs 83%), shortness of breath (18.3% vs 74%), change in cough (48.4% vs 85%) and coughing blood (74.6% vs 97%) as signs of lung cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: The higher smoking/vaping rates in Travellers need targeted and tailored smoking cessation supports. Spontaneous recognition of passive smoking risk is high but other awareness is comparable to or lower than the general population; recognition of many lung cancer signs is low. Targeted strategies are required.