BackgroundThe European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) aims to increase the awareness of modifiable cancer risk factors among the general public. A goal set by the European Commission was that 80% of European citizens should be aware of this code by 2025. This study aims to examine the awareness and attitudes towards the ECAC among the general public in Sweden.

MethodsA randomly selected sample of 1520 Swedes (18–84 years old) were recruited from a survey panel and invited to respond to an online study-specific questionnaire. The questionnaire included general questions regarding cancer prevention, as well as awareness and attitudes specific to the ECAC. Data were analysed univariately and with adjusted logistic regression, using post-stratification weights based on gender, age, education, and expressed political party orientation.

ResultsIn total, 3.7% of the respondents had heard about the ECAC before taking this survey. Respondents with a college/university education were more likely to have heard about the ECAC (odds ratio [OR] 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–4.06). Males (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.32–0.99), and those living alone (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.23–0.95) were less likely to have heard about the ECAC. In total, 60.6% of the respondents agreed with the ECAC recommendations, while 27.4% reported that their motivation to improve their lifestyle increased after reading the ECAC.

ConclusionsAwareness of the ECAC among the general public in Sweden is very low. Still, a majority seem to agree with its recommendations. The results also indicate that the ECAC motivates some, but far from all, to improve their lifestyle habits to reduce their cancer risk. Consequently, further research is warranted on how the ECAC best could and should be used in order to improve cancer prevention awareness and motivation.

Contact nursing services have been implemented in Swedish cancer care to increase healthcare quality. Too little is known about the content and quality of these services and the organizational prerequisites provided to contact nurses. The aim of this study was to explore contact nurses’ perceptions of their services and organizational prerequisites, as well as the connection between organizational prerequisites and moral stress. A cross-sectional survey was utilized consisting of a study-specific questionnaire and a select part of the Stress of Conscience Questionnaire. The study is reported in accordance with STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies. The results showed that contact nursing service content varied across settings and that 84% of contact nurses have what was categorized as satisfactory or moderately satisfactory self-reported organizational prerequisites. Perceived moral stress differed between contact nurses depending on organizational prerequisites. The variability of both services and prerequisites can be described as inequities in care and complicates evaluation and comparison.

Contact nurses in cancer care were vital in sustaining cancer care in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate their experiences of providing care to people with cancer in these exceptional circumstances to identify emerging challenges and opportunities that must be addressed moving forward. A survey distributed to contact nurses was supplemented with questions regarding the pandemic. The study design was a cross-sectional survey, analyzed with descriptive statistics and content analysis, reported in accordance with STROBE. Almost half of respondents (n = 337) reported not being able to provide the same support as before the pandemic. Analysis of open-ended question responses (n = 232) revealed a main theme: Altered prerequisites for providing care. Three categories related to altered interaction, accessibility, and nursing reality were revealed. Thorough reflection is needed to make use of lessons learned and avoid sustaining the short-term solutions needed to cope with the acute phase of the pandemic.