Awareness of the population of the Russian Federation about the symptoms and treatment methods of pediatric oncological diseases: gender, age and regional aspects.

Awareness of Healthcare Accessibility as a Current Challenge in Evolving Healthcare Systems and Its Direct Impact on Timely Delivery of Care Involving High-Tech Medical Services. Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing Awareness Levels. Objective: to assess the level of public awareness regarding the epidemiology, symptoms of pediatric oncological diseases, and available medical and psychological support services across the Russian Federation. Materials and methods. A population-based non-continuous medical and sociological study was conducted using a specially designed anonymous questionnaire distributed via the VKontakte social network («Drugoe Delo» platform). The questionnaire comprised 12 questions developed with the participation of leading experts from the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology under the Russian Ministry of Health. Results were grouped and analyzed by federal districts, accounting for socio-demographic parameters. Results. As of the analysis date (15.04.2025), the study included 6,080 respondents with a mean age of 34.6±12.4 years (65.2% male, 34.8% female). Respondents experienced greatest difficulty with questions concerning risk factors and clinical manifestations of childhood cancer. Questions about healthcare delivery systems and psychological support services posed fewer challenges. An overwhelming majority 96.5% recognized the necessity of treatment at specialized centers, while 94.5% acknowledged the importance of psychological support. Awareness levels showed significant dependence on respondents’ gender and age, with pronounced geographical variations in knowledge levels. The obtained data enable evaluation of current public awareness about childhood malignancies and inform strategies for enhancing oncological vigilance in the population. Conclusions. Thus, the study revealed socio-demographic disparities in awareness levels of pediatric oncological diseases, with higher awareness observed among male respondents and individuals under 18 years of age. The findings underscore the need for developing tailored educational programs and an expert-led informational platform on childhood cancer, covering all stages of diagnosis and treatment, with the involvement of professional medical experts.