KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS SCREENING OF COLORECTAL CANCER

Background: Colorectal cancer is neoplastic proliferation of cells in the colon, rectum, and anus. It is the world's second leading cause of mortality by cancer with 935,173 associated deaths in 2020. Despite extensive attempts to raise colorectal cancer screening rates, at least 40% of adult patients struggle to meet screening recommendations. More than half of the participants from Saudi Arabia has poor attitude.

Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, awareness about colorectal cancer in Al Qassim region of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Qassim region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire in Arabic language.

Results: A total of 442 respondents with a mean age of 33.4 ± 11.46 SD years participated. More than half of our respondents (64.5%) had no previous knowledge about early screening for colorectal cancer. Average knowledge score was found to be 5.1 ± 3.53 (range from 1 to 17) and average attitude score was found to be 25.2 ± 4.11 (range from 7 to 35). About 50.5% of the respondents stated that both men and women are capable of developing colon cancer. Most of the respondents, 62%, agreed with blood in stool as a symptom of colon cancer. Age, occupation, and marital status significantly affected respondent’s knowledge about screening of colon cancer with p-values 0.001, <0.001, and 0.006, respectively. Socio-demographic factors did not affect respondent’s attitude toward screening of colon cancer.

Conclusion: There is a low level of awareness and knowledge about colorectal cancer and its screening. Positive attitude towards screening was observed in only one third of respondents.

Key words: Knowledge, Attitude, Screening, Colorectal Cancer.