BUCT-China 2024 Precision Diagnosis Survey Report​

As medical technology continues to advance, precision diagnosis plays an increasingly important role in disease prevention and treatment. To better understand the public's awareness and needs regarding precision diagnosis, BUCT-China 2024 conducted a survey on precision diagnosis in 2024, aiming to guide the further development and promotion of our project.

Questionnaire Design and Distribution​

In the early stages of questionnaire design, team members invited doctors from the affiliated hospital of Beijing University of Chemical Technology to provide professional guidance on certain questions, ensuring the scientific accuracy and rigor of the survey. After the initial draft of the questionnaire was completed, the doctors participated in filling it out and provided suggestions for revisions to ensure there were no errors in the medical knowledge. The final questionnaire was then widely distributed through both online and offline channels to ensure the representativeness and diversity of the data.

A total of 621 valid questionnaires were collected in this survey, with participants' age, gender, occupation, and place of residence covering a wide range. This ensured that the survey results could reflect the views and needs of different social groups regarding precision diagnosis.

Survey Results and Analysis​

Basic Information​

Age and Gender Distribution​

Age Distribution: Among the respondents, the 21-30 age group accounted for the highest percentage (44.77%), followed by the 10-20 age group (33.82%). These two groups combined made up nearly 80% of the respondents, indicating a high level of interest in health and medical technology among younger people. This may be related to their higher education levels and greater acceptance of new technologies.

Gender Distribution: The gender ratio was relatively balanced, with males and females accounting for 49.84% and 49.16%, respectively. This balanced distribution allows the survey results to comprehensively reflect the attitudes of different gender groups towards precision diagnosis.

Occupation and Regional Distribution​

Occupation: The majority of respondents were students (78.42%), while medical practitioners, educators, finance/engineering professionals, and other professionals were relatively underrepresented. This result may be influenced by the survey distribution channels and suggests that future surveys should target a broader range of occupational groups to gather more comprehensive opinions.

Region and Living Environment: Most participants were from North China (56.68%) and Northeast China (17.72%). The majority of respondents lived in urban areas (91.63%), with only a small portion from rural areas (3.54%). This indicates that urban residents have a higher interest in medical technology, which may be associated with the richer medical resources and more prevalent health education in urban settings.

Health Status and Cancer Concerns​

Health Issues and Family History​

Health Status: Most respondents reported having no known health problems or disease history (91.46%), but 8.54% did have health issues. This group may have a stronger demand for precision diagnostic technology and hope to monitor and manage their health more effectively through new technology.

Family Cancer History: Only 2.09% of respondents indicated a family history of cancer, which is relatively low. However, family history is a significant factor influencing people's attention to cancer screening. This suggests that in promoting precision diagnostic technology, special attention should be paid to those with a family history of cancer by providing regular screening recommendations to enhance their willingness for early detection.

Concerns About Cancer Types​

The most concerning cancer types among respondents were lung cancer (18.68%), breast cancer (15.78%), and ovarian cancer (15.29%). The high incidence and mortality rates of these cancers may contribute to the public’s heightened concern. Additionally, lung cancer is often associated with smoking and environmental pollution, while breast and ovarian cancers are closely related to female reproductive health, making these cancers more alarming to the public.

Attitudes and Knowledge About Cancer Screening​

Screening Behavior and Knowledge Levels​

More than 60% of respondents had never undergone cancer screening (62.47%), and only about 20% did so regularly. This indicates that public awareness of cancer screening still needs improvement, which could be related to perceived costs, procedures, and potential discomfort associated with screening.

Regarding knowledge of cancer screening methods, only 1.93% of respondents were "very familiar," while 46.55% were "hardly familiar" or "not familiar at all." This shows that public awareness of cancer screening methods is generally low, suggesting a need to enhance health education, particularly for younger people and older adults with lower health awareness.

Views on Screening Tools​

Willingness to Accept Non-invasive Cancer Screening: Over 60% of respondents expressed that they were "very willing" or "somewhat willing" to accept non-invasive cancer screening tools, indicating that painless and convenient screening technology is more likely to be accepted by the public.

Interest in CRISPR Technology: The majority of respondents (around 86%) expressed interest in early cancer detection tools based on synthetic DNA and CRISPR technology, demonstrating an increasing recognition and acceptance of cutting-edge biomedical technology among the public.

Expectations and Concerns About New Technologies​

Technology Expectations​

In the survey, respondents had the highest expectations for the "high accuracy" of precision diagnostic tools (89%), followed by "less pain" (85%) and "low cost" (68%). This suggests that the public hopes that screening technology is not only accurate but also minimizes physical discomfort and financial burdens.

An overwhelming 97% of respondents are willing to try new non-invasive detection tools, indicating the public's strong anticipation for new technologies and a greater focus on their health.

In-depth Analysis and Findings​

Through this survey, we found that the public's demand and expectations for precision diagnostic tools are mainly concentrated on high accuracy, comfort, and affordability. The pursuit of high accuracy and comfort reflects people's desire to undergo early disease screening through more reliable and painless methods. Moreover, the positive attitude towards synthetic DNA and CRISPR technology shows a growing trust and expectation for biomedical technology.

The survey results also revealed the public's lack of knowledge about cancer screening and the insufficient awareness of screening practices. Most people do not undergo regular cancer screening, indicating that health education needs to be strengthened to raise public awareness of cancer prevention and control. Additionally, differences between urban and rural areas and between professions suggest that the promotion of precision diagnostic technology should involve targeted educational campaigns, especially for rural areas with limited medical resources and occupational groups lacking medical knowledge.

Conclusion and Recommendations​

This survey not only helped us understand the public's attitudes and needs towards precision diagnosis but also highlighted the challenges and concerns regarding early cancer screening in society. In future research and promotion, BUCT-China 2024 should focus on the following aspects:

1.Strengthening Public Education: Conduct health education campaigns for groups with weak screening awareness, especially targeting young people, older adults, and rural residents, to improve their understanding and awareness of early screening.

2.Enhancing the Accuracy and Comfort of Screening Technology: In the research and development process, efforts should be made to improve the accuracy of detection tools and reduce discomfort during screening to meet the public's demand for efficient and painless diagnosis.

3.Focusing on Low-cost Screening: To ensure that more people can afford screening costs, the technology should be further optimized to reduce costs, particularly for low-income populations and regions with limited medical resources.

BUCT-China 2024 will continue to be dedicated to developing efficient and convenient cancer early diagnosis tools and will work towards increasing public awareness of precision medicine through broader science education and outreach, thereby contributing to the health and well-being of society.