Knowledge of Colorectal Cancer Among Syrians: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2022.1822Keywords:
Knowledge, Cancer, Colorectal, SyriaAbstract
Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer is the second highest among women and the third highest among males. Screening for the disease has resulted in a significant decrease in both the prevalence and death rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) during the last two decades. Research has indicated that people unaware of the dangers of colorectal cancer may not participate in diagnostic procedures, which delays detection and reduces the likelihood of survival.
Aim: This cross-sectional research seeks to examine the level of knowledge of CRC risk factors in Syria and the variables correlated with a greater level of awareness.
Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 25 August 2022 to assess the Syrians' degree of awareness of Colorectal Cancer risk factors in Syria and the characteristics associated with a high level of understanding. The survey is based on another study, and the sample inclusion criteria of study participants were Syrian nationals aged 18 or older from all Syrian governorates. The questionnaire included 35 questions divided into 3 sections, sociodemographic variables such as (age, sex, marital status, educational level, occupation…etc.), evaluation of participant knowledge of colorectal cancer risk factors such as (alcohol consumption, Red meat consumption, lack of fiber in the diet, obesity, and old age), and symptoms such as (blood in stool, abdominal pain, constipation, change in defecation habits, general tiredness, unexplained weight loss).
Results: Among 702 Syrian national participants, (n=430, 61.3%) were females, and (n=272, 38.7%) males. Only (n=67, 9.5%) participants have a chronic disease. Most participants have shown good knowledge of colorectal cancer symptoms (n=301, 42.9%), and (n=297, 42.3%) participants have shown moderate knowledge of colorectal cancer symptoms. Only (n=123, 17.6%) participants have shown a good understanding of colorectal cancer risk factors, whereas (n=293, 41.7%) have demonstrated poor knowledge. Educational level was related to greater knowledge of colorectal cancer risk factors (P-value 0.05). No correlation was found between other variables and a good awareness of colorectal cancer symptoms and risk factors (P-value > 0.05). Ph.D. degree of educational level (OR = 15.41, 95% CI: 1.211–196.16; P-value<0.05) was associated with good awareness of colorectal cancer symptoms and Widowers' marital status (OR = 7.351, 95% CI: 1.22–44.285; P-value<0.05) was associated with good awareness of colorectal cancer risk factors. Most participants were somewhat confident in their ability to recognize colorectal cancer symptoms (43.60%), whereas just 4.60 % of people were highly confident in their ability to recognize them. Only (24.10%) The participants were not confident in identifying colorectal cancer symptoms.
Conclusion: According to our findings, there is insufficient understanding of the colorectal cancer symptoms and risk factors that contribute to the disease's development in patients and its detection in its late stages. Consequently, there is a greater need to increase colorectal cancer awareness and education programs on the disease's signs and symptoms and its risk factors. It may be possible to minimize the frequency of advanced cases of colorectal cancer by increasing the number of screening programs for colorectal cancer in Syria.
Metrics
Downloads
Published
Versions
- 2023-02-21 (2)
- 2022-12-31 (1)
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Mohammad Badr Almoshantaf, Sarya Swed , Hidar Alibrahim, Haidara Bohsas, Mohmad Nour Nasif, Wael Hafez, Ahmad Aldaas
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site; with the understanding that the above condition can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from the Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
Enforcement of copyright
The IJMS takes the protection of copyright very seriously.
If the IJMS discovers that you have used its copyright materials in contravention of the license above, the IJMS may bring legal proceedings against you seeking reparation and an injunction to stop you using those materials. You could also be ordered to pay legal costs.
If you become aware of any use of the IJMS' copyright materials that contravenes or may contravene the license above, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
Infringing material
If you become aware of any material on the website that you believe infringes your or any other person's copyright, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
