三分之一的癌症可以通过改变青春期出现的关键危险因素来预防。为了帮助为预防工作提供信息，我们调查了青少年对癌症危险因素、症状和体征以及寻求帮助的障碍的了解。九个焦点小组是针对 12 至 17 岁的二元性别友谊小组进行的。根据主题时间表、记录和现场笔记，使用定性描述方法对访谈进行分析。行为、遗传和环境因素通常被视为风险因素。大多数癌症症状都集中在身体指标上，例如肿块和皮肤外观。良好健康选择的促进因素和障碍涉及外部和内部因素：教育、负担能力、态度和社会环境。大多数参与者表示，他们会与值得信赖的朋友和家人谈论健康问题，但前提是病情变得“严重”。最常见的健康信息来源是互联网。青少年对行为风险因素有很好的了解，但对一些关键的癌症症状知之甚少。支持系统被认为是处理健康问题的一个实质性因素，以青年为重点的卫生服务也是如此。参与者对许多癌症的可预防性的了解并不广泛。那又怎样？：结果强调需要提供适当、负担得起且易于获得的以青年为中心的卫生服务。需要采取适合年龄和文化的干预措施来提高对癌症症状的了解。针对宫颈癌相关病毒的免疫接种是青春期临床癌症预防干预的一个例子。© 2023 作者。约翰·威利 (John Wiley) 出版的《澳大利亚健康促进杂志》

One third of cancers are potentially preventable by modifying key risk factors that arise during adolescence. To help inform prevention efforts, we investigated adolescents' understanding of cancer risk factors, symptoms and signs and barriers to help-seeking.Nine focus groups were conducted with purposefully sampled, binary-gendered friendship groups of 12 to 17-year-olds. Interviews were analysed using a qualitative descriptive method based on the topic schedule, transcripts and field notes.Behavioural, genetic and environmental factors were commonly explored as risk factors. Most cancer symptoms identified focused on physical indicators, such as lumps and skin appearance. Facilitators and barriers to good health choices involved both external and internal factors: education, affordability, attitudes and the social environment. Most participants indicated they would talk to trusted friends and family members about health issues, but only when the condition became 'serious'. The most common source of health information was the internet.Adolescents have a good understanding of behavioural risk factors, but poor knowledge of some key cancer symptoms. A support system was recognised to be a substantive factor in dealing with health issues, as were youth-focused health services. Understanding of the preventability of many cancers was not widespread with participants. SO WHAT?: The results emphasise a requirement for appropriate, affordable and accessible youth-focused health services. There is a need for age- and culturally appropriate interventions that improve knowledge of cancer symptoms. Immunisation against the viruses implicated in cervical cancer is one example of a clinical cancer prevention intervention in adolescence.© 2023 The Authors. Health Promotion Journal of Australia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Health Promotion Association.