Public Awareness and Perceptions of Colorectal Cancer Prevention: a Cross-Sectional Survey

Markus Dines Knudsen,Gry Ekeberg Bodin,Paula Berstad,Sissel Øvervold,Geir Hoff,Ida Tidemann-Andersen

doi:10.1007/s13187-020-01721-5

Abstract

We aimed to investigate awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) lifestyle risk factors, willingness to participate in CRC screening, and preferences concerning channels for information on CRC prevention in the general population, including the target age of the upcoming Norwegian national CRC screening program. The present study was a cross-sectional online survey of adults aged 39 to 55 years registered as Kantar Web Panel respondents in Norway. The survey included demographic characteristics, multiple choice knowledge questions of lifestyle risk factors for CRC, attitudes towards CRC screening, and preferred channels for receiving information on CRC prevention. Of 4375 participants invited, 2007 (46%) answered the survey. The average number of correctly identified lifestyle risk factors for CRC was 7.3 of ten. Women were significantly more likely than men, and those with university or college education more likely than those with lower education to correctly identify at least eight risk factors (odds ratio, OR = 1.53, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.25–1.87, and OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.23–1.86, respectively). The number of correctly identified risk factors was positively associated with willingness to participate in CRC screening (P for trend < 0.001). The national public work force and the Norwegian Cancer Society were selected by 76% and 69% of the participants, respectively, to be trustworthy sources of information on CRC prevention. Awareness of CRC risk factors was associated with willingness to participate in CRC screening. The national public work force and Cancer Society can be generally accepted sources of CRC preventive information.

Highlights

The importance of healthy lifestyle behaviors has been acknowledged in international cancer prevention recommendations [1] and strategies [2]
Our aim was to investigate willingness to participate in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and awareness of CRC lifestyle risk factors in the general population in the age group of the upcoming Norwegian national CRC screening program, as well as in younger adults who will reach the screening age during the 16 years
The present study showed that awareness of CRC lifestyle risk factors in an age group soon eligible for CRC screening was highest in women and those with highest education

Summary

Introduction

The importance of healthy lifestyle behaviors has been acknowledged in international cancer prevention recommendations [1] and strategies [2]. For increasing public awareness of health behaviors, carefully conducted mass media campaigns may have an effect [5, 6]. In Norway, a number of mass media campaigns to improve health behaviors have been arranged by the Directory of Health which is the national public health workforce, and by nonprofit organizations as well as commercial actors. Free digital aids such as applications for smoking cessation are available. Interventions to successfully improve lifestyle behavior in the general population require large resources [7,8,9]; otherwise, the effect is limited [10].

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Conclusion