Knowledge and perception regarding colorectal cancer among IIUM Kuantan undergraduates
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer of the large intestine with high mortality and morbidity rate. According to the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report, CRC was reported as the second most frequent cancer after breast cancer. This study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and perception...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNiSZA)
2018
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/68047/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/68047/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/68047/1/68047_Knowledge%20and%20Perception%20regarding%20Colorectal.pdf |
| Summary: | Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer of the large intestine with high mortality and morbidity rate. According to
the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report, CRC was reported as the second most frequent cancer after
breast cancer. This study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and perception of IIUM Kuantan Campus
students regarding CRC. Currently, there is no national screening program conducted by the Ministry of
Health Malaysia for CRC as an early prevention in Malaysia. Despite the increase in incidence and mortality
rates of CRC, emphasis on creating awareness regarding CRC among Malaysian is still lacking. Using
convenience sampling method and adapted self-administered questionnaires, this cross-sectional study was
conducted among the undergraduate students of International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus.
Overall, more than half of the respondents have a moderate level of knowledge and perceptions regarding
CRC. Moreover, there was a significant difference between male and female respondents in terms of
knowledge regarding CRC screening (p<0.001). There was also a significant difference in terms of knowledge
regarding CRC between different kulliyyahs (p=0.001). However, no correlation was found between
knowledge and perception regarding CRC and screening among IIUM Kuantan students. Approximately half
of IIUM Kuantan undergraduate students had moderate level of knowledge and perception regarding CRC and
screening. Respondents from Kulliyyah of Medicine showed higher knowledge scores compared to
respondents from other kulliyyahs, probably due to the educational courses they undertook during their
academic years, and to the fact that they were more familiar with the healthcare systems. Female respondents
showed higher knowledge score and slightly higher perception score, which could be contributed to females
being more concerned in early cancer detection than males. An overall moderate score among the science- and
health-based undergraduate students suggested that it is essential to empower the young adults regarding
information on colorectal cancer prevention and intention to go for screening. Effective and long-lasting
promotional campaigns must be conducted to improve the level of knowledge and perceptions regarding CRC
and screening, particularly to benefit the young adults in the community, and this may begin with the
undergraduates. |
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