Colorectal Cancer Awareness and Related Factors Among Adults Attending Primary Healthcare in North-Eastern of Iran: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer in Iran. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness regarding CRC warning signs, risk factors, screening program, and related factors among adults in North-Eastern Iran. Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: The multi-stage sampling method was used to survey 2614 participants attending primary healthcare centers in Mashhad, Iran. The data collection tools were the demographics section and Bowel/ CRC Awareness Measure (Bowel/Colorectal CAM). The data were analyzed by SPSS, version 25. The significance level of the data analysis was less than 0.05.

Results: Mean awareness for CRC warning signs and CRC risk factors were 2.85±2.13 and 3.63±1.85, respectively. Most participants (97.2%) had no awareness of the CRC screening program. There was a significant association between marital status, education, job, income, and family history of CRC with awareness of warning signs (P<0.001); moreover, there was a significant association between age, education, job, income, and family history of CRC with awareness of risk factors (P<0.001). The results of logistic regression indicated that there was a significant association between age (P=0.022, OR=1.794, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.087, 2.962), gender (P=0.005, OR=0.488, 95% CI: 0.296, 0.803) and warning sign awareness (P<0.001, OR=1.278, 95% CI: 1.124, 1.454) with awareness of the CRC screening program.

Conclusion: In this study, most of the participants had low awareness of CRC. More aimed educational interventions are needed to promote Iranian adults' awareness of CRC.

Keywords: Awareness; Cancer screening; Colorectal neoplasms; Risk factors; Signs and symptoms.