Community‐based survey of knowledge of, attitudes to and practice of colorectal cancer screening in Hong Kong

Abstract

To reduce the morbidity and mortality of CRC significantly, average risk and high-risk groups should be encouraged to come forward for screening even if they are asymptomatic. Educating the population, simplifying the screening procedure and offering financial support by the government are keys to success.

The effect of knowledge and health beliefs about colorectal cancer on screening behaviour

“…Even the percentage of those who desired to undergo CRC screening (43.6%) was lower than the desired coverage rate in our study. Reasons such as not believing to be at risk, lack of knowledge about the tests, lack of someone recommending the test, being afraid of a cancer diagnosis, embarrassment and being afraid of painful procedures have been listed as the reasons why individuals do not undergo a CRC screening test in various studies (Bocci et al, ; Harewood et al, ; Koo et al, ; Pontone, ; White et al, ; Wong et al, ). The reasons for not undergoing a CRC screening test were also similar in our study.…”

“…The study data were collected with the ‘Data Collection Form' created by the authors after reviewing the relevant literature (Bocci, Troiano, Messina, Nante, & Civitelli, ; Harewood et al, ; Teixeira et al, ; Wong et al, ) and the ‘Health Belief Model Scale for Protection from Colorectal Cancer (HBMSPCC)'. We used 17 questions related to the socio‐demographic characteristics (such as age, gender, educational level, marital status, perceived income, social security coverage, personal habits, chronic diseases, history of cancer, body mass index [BMI]) and 15 questions related to their CRC risk knowledge and behaviour (such as those related to CRC risk, symptoms and screening status) for a total of 32 questions in the data collection form.…”

“…The study data were collected with the 'Data Collection Form' created by the authors after reviewing the relevant literature (Bocci, Troiano, Messina, Nante, & Civitelli, 2017;Harewood et al, 2009;Teixeira et al, 2018;Wong et al, 2017) It has 5 subscales consisting of confidence-benefit (11 items), susceptibility (6 items), health motivation (5 items), barrier (6 items) and seriousness (5 items) perceptions. Each subscale is evaluated separately in this scale and the perceptions specific to that area increase as the scores increase (Ozsoy, Ardahan, & Ozmen, 2007).…”

“…However, the rate of population‐based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in our country is reported as 20%–30% (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Turkey Public Health Institution Cancer Control Department, ). The low rate may be caused by various obstacles related to the system, the individual, or the test itself (Harewood et al, ; Teixeira et al, ; Wong, Lee, Lam, & Fan, ). Increasing the early screening rate requires healthcare employees working in primary healthcare centres to identify the issues preventing individuals from participating in these programmes and develop suggestions and initiatives that change the health beliefs and increase motivation (Yılmaz, Dereli, & Yelten, ).…”

Awareness survey about colorectal cancer in students of m. Phil biotechnology at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

“…91.5% responded that there wasn't any case of CRC in their family. 13 In another study conducted among English population showed that only 10% of the participants were aware of the fact that CRC is ranked third among common type of cancers and merely 46% people knew some symptoms and risk factors of CRC. 14 There is another study regarding the awareness of CRC among the population of Perak state of Malaysia, and this study illustrated that 38% people had no knowledge regarding CRC.…”