Epidemiological review of gastric cancer in educational hospitals of Birjand University of Medical Sciences (2006-2011)

Background and aims: Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers all over the world and is the world's second fatal cancer. This study was done to identify the epidemiological features and risk factors of gastric cancer in different regions of Birjand. Such study can be an effective step in preventing, controlling and curing the diseases. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Birjand educational hospitals. All patients with gastric cancer who were hospitalized in the period 2006-2011 in educational hospitals were recruited through census. Data were collected using researcher-made checklist through examining medical record of patient. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics by SPSS software. Ethical approval was received from the Birjand University of Medical Sciences. Results: Results of this study showed that villages around Ghaien had the highest rate of gastric cancer (n=14, 12.6%). In this study, the relationship between histopathology with therapeutic interventions (P=0.006) and diagnostic methods (P=0.005) was significant. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the place of residence (P=0.018) and the type of therapeutic interventions. Conclusion: Findings of this study depicted an accurate and complete image of the epidemiology of this cancer in the region and provided authorities with valuable findings to make decisions about the identification of risk factors of gastric cancer in order to reduce cancer rates. It can also be an alarm for the villagers to change their habits and diet and to have a healthy life.