Awareness on colorectal cancer and bowel cancer screening among public / Mohammad Syafiq Md Sha‘ari and Nursuziliana Mohd Sufian

Improving the awareness of CRC and bowel cancer screening (BCS) screening were the most powerful weapons for preventing CRC. This research examined awareness on CRC and BCS among public, with determination of the factors affecting this. A sample (n=470) was selected using convenient sampling method to complete the surveys. 42.8 per cent of the respondents were not sure that a lack of physical activity is one of the risk factors for someone to get CRC. Incomplete feeling bowel empty, pain at final passage and tiredness are less well-recognized signs which represent only 17.7%, 31.9% and 31.1% respectively. Majority of the respondents which represent 61.5% was willing to have a screening test for colorectal cancer even without any symptom. Most of the respondents at ages 60-70 years were not sure that being over 70 years old was one of the risk factors of colorectal cancer and do not know the feeling that bowel does not empty after using the lavatory could be a sign of bowel cancer. More than half of the respondents with no formal education not aware of any colorectal cancer screening programmed in Malaysia and majority of the respondent with a primary, secondary and tertiary level of education willing to have a screening test for colorectal cancer, even without any symptom. Initiatives are required to improve the awareness among public especially focusing on increasing knowledge on symptoms and risk factors of colorectal cancer, awareness on benefits on screening health education, and promotion of healthy lifestyles to prevent this disease.