Assessment of Knowledge of Cancer Risk Factors and Awareness of Early Cancer Warning Signs among University Students

Year 2024, Volume: 14 Issue: 1, 139 - 145, 28.03.2024

Anmar Al-taie , Aisha Bakur

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1235753

Abstract

Objective: To predict the level of knowledge about cancer risk factors and the level of awareness of the most common warning symptoms of cancer among university students in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus among university students from different academic disciplines, including medical and non-medical disciplines, using a structured questionnaire.
Results: A total of 150 students participated in this study, half of them were non-medical students (51.3%). There was a low level of knowledge of cancer risk factors reported by most of the respondents of both groups. The difference between the responses to risk factors between the medical and non-medical students was found to be statistically significant regarding alcohol consumption (9.6% vs. 13%;
p=.004), consumption of processed red meat (12.3% vs. 54.5%; p<.001), family history of cancer (4.1% vs. 6.5%; p<.001), respectively. Permanent unexplained pain was significantly recognized by the respondents of the medical group compared to the non-medical group (48% vs. 18.2%; p<0.001). The medical and non-medical participants reported a low mean knowledge (2.24±1.52 vs. 3.11±1.60); and mean awareness (1.70±0.91 vs. 1.00±0.81), respectively.
Conclusion: There is a gap and low knowledge about cancer prevention and awareness of cancer signs among medical and non-medical undergraduates. Efforts should be made to increase cancer knowledge and awareness through continuing education programs for all university students at various levels to detect cancer early.

Keywords

Awareness, Cancer, Risk factors, Cancer signs, University students

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