[Knowledge, conduct and attitude before the European Code against Cancer by health professionals of primary care].

OBJECTIVE: To decide if Primary Care (PC) professionals know the European Code against Cancer (CECC) and if this relates to practice the recommendations with themselves and with their patients.

DESIGN: descriptive, observational study.

SETTING: Spanish Health Centers.

PARTICIPANTS: Health professionals.

INTERVENTIONS: self-administered questionnaire.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS: cancer protective and risk factors, screening for colorectal, breast, cervix and prostate cancer, level of knowledge of the ECAC.

RESULTS: 1734 participants (10.5%), mean age 47.4 years (SD: 8.6), 71.5% female. 50.0% do not know the CECC; tutors (OR=1.61), assigned to the PAPPS (OR=1.51) and who have been working in AP for more time (OR=2.62) are the ones who know it most. 7.2% smoke and 79.1% drink alcohol. 64.1% presented normal weight and 19% performed physical activity. They avoid exposing themselves to the sun 52.7% and use protectors 53.8%. 85.2% have never had a colorectal screening, 11% never had a cytology, and 12% had a mammogram. There is a relationship between knowing the CECC and smoking (P<.001), overweight/obesity (P=.024), physical activity (P=.003), meat intake (P<.001), mammography (P<.001), cytology (P=.022), PSA (P=.045), as well as the promotion of their advice among patients.

CONCLUSIONS: The CECC is unknown by half of the AP professionals. The practice of its recommendations is uneven, with the prevalence of low smoking, and sun protection a little extended behavior. Those who know him are the ones who most practice his recommendations.