jsmc-10135

AWARENESS OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN SULAIMANI UNIVERSITY ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING

Bushra Mohammad Ali a, b, Rahel Fraidon Abdwlwahide b,Tama Tayib c, Rozh Halkawt c, Naz Aram Aisan c, Tablo Jawhar c and Aisan Madih c

a Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani. 

c College of Medicine, University of Sulaimani.

Submitted: 1/3/2017; Accepted: 15/10/2017; Published: 1/11/2017

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.17656/jsmc.10135

ABSTRACT

Background 

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of most common cancers. Deaths from colorectal cancer have decreased with the use of CRC screening tests. Screening can find colorectal cancer early, when there is a greater chance that treatment will be most effective and lead to a cure.

Objective

To identify and compare knowledge and attitude among medical students of colleges of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy /Sulaimani University regarding CRC screening.

Materials and Methods 

A cross sectional study was conducted from (20th–21st November), 2016 included 310 medical students regarding their knowledge and attitude about CRC and its screening. Questionnaires were distributed among them then data were collected and analyzed by SSPS 20th version. Chi square was used to get the association, P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

310 students included in this study, only 44.8% of them considered CRC to be a high-risk condition for public health. However, the majority of participants identified CRC-related symptoms (> 60%), and acknowledged its screening to be of great value in reducing CRC incidence and mortality (45.8%). Nearly 47 % had received information regarding CRC screening and 67.7% believed that there is alack or shortage of trained professionals conducting screening, with a significant association regarding P value (0.017). Students of college of medicine had the highest frequency of correct answers and positive attitudes among the 3 colleges.

Conclusion

Although most medical students had positive attitudes regarding cancer screening, this study showed important deficits in knowledge. Medical students in Sulaimani University need to be better informed about CRC and its screening.

KEYWORDS

 CRC Screening, Knowledge, Attitude, Medical students.

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