A cross-sectional study on colorectal cancer screening knowledge and barriers among university students
Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality on a global scale. Timely identification by screening can decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with CRC. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge and perceived barriers related...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22510-z |
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| author | Hebatalla Abdelmaksoud Abdelmonsef Ahmed Bander Saad Albagawi Amany Hamed AboZayed Ahmed Yousef Marzouk M. Marzouk Ibrahim Naif Alenezi Abeer A. Almowafy Hoda Ali Ahmed Shiba |
| author_facet | Hebatalla Abdelmaksoud Abdelmonsef Ahmed Bander Saad Albagawi Amany Hamed AboZayed Ahmed Yousef Marzouk M. Marzouk Ibrahim Naif Alenezi Abeer A. Almowafy Hoda Ali Ahmed Shiba |
| author_sort | Hebatalla Abdelmaksoud Abdelmonsef Ahmed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality on a global scale. Timely identification by screening can decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with CRC. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge and perceived barriers related to CRC screening among university students. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among university students between October 2022 and July 2023. Data were gathered using an online survey that evaluated knowledge of CRC, with a specific emphasis on sociodemographic information, risk factors for CRC, warning signs and symptoms, and the available screening methods. Results Out of the 2090 students, 74.8% were female, 54.3% were enrolled in the Faculty of Human Medicine, and 20.4% had a family history of CRC. The general knowledge of CRC and its risk factors was inadequate, as indicated by mean scores of 15.95 ± 6.5 and 3.9 ± 1.95, respectively. A total of 5.3% of the participants had received CRC screening, with colonoscopy being the most frequently employed screening method. In their perspective, the primary obstacles to CRC screening were the absence of endorsement from healthcare professionals, feelings of embarrassment, and apprehension over the outcomes. Conclusion The study highlights the need for targeted educational campaigns and interventions to improve CRC awareness among university students and address identified obstacles toward screening. However, findings are limited by self-reported data, which may introduce recall bias and affect generalizability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c33ff0f22e3b44cdb96a93c98412eb18 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-c33ff0f22e3b44cdb96a93c98412eb182025-08-20T03:08:40ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-22510-zA cross-sectional study on colorectal cancer screening knowledge and barriers among university studentsHebatalla Abdelmaksoud Abdelmonsef Ahmed0Bander Saad Albagawi1Amany Hamed AboZayed2Ahmed Yousef3Marzouk M. Marzouk4Ibrahim Naif Alenezi5Abeer A. Almowafy6Hoda Ali Ahmed Shiba7Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kafr-Elsheikh UniversityMedical Surgical Department, College of Nursing, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic UniversityPublic Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityPublic Health and Community Medicine, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar UniversityPublic Health and Community Medicine, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar UniversityDepartment of Public Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Northern Border UniversityInternational Islamic Institute for Population Studies and Research, Al-Azhar UniversityPublic Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar UniversityAbstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality on a global scale. Timely identification by screening can decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with CRC. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge and perceived barriers related to CRC screening among university students. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among university students between October 2022 and July 2023. Data were gathered using an online survey that evaluated knowledge of CRC, with a specific emphasis on sociodemographic information, risk factors for CRC, warning signs and symptoms, and the available screening methods. Results Out of the 2090 students, 74.8% were female, 54.3% were enrolled in the Faculty of Human Medicine, and 20.4% had a family history of CRC. The general knowledge of CRC and its risk factors was inadequate, as indicated by mean scores of 15.95 ± 6.5 and 3.9 ± 1.95, respectively. A total of 5.3% of the participants had received CRC screening, with colonoscopy being the most frequently employed screening method. In their perspective, the primary obstacles to CRC screening were the absence of endorsement from healthcare professionals, feelings of embarrassment, and apprehension over the outcomes. Conclusion The study highlights the need for targeted educational campaigns and interventions to improve CRC awareness among university students and address identified obstacles toward screening. However, findings are limited by self-reported data, which may introduce recall bias and affect generalizability.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22510-zColorectal cancerScreeningKnowledgeUniversity studentsMedical facultyBarriers |
| spellingShingle | Hebatalla Abdelmaksoud Abdelmonsef Ahmed Bander Saad Albagawi Amany Hamed AboZayed Ahmed Yousef Marzouk M. Marzouk Ibrahim Naif Alenezi Abeer A. Almowafy Hoda Ali Ahmed Shiba A cross-sectional study on colorectal cancer screening knowledge and barriers among university students BMC Public Health Colorectal cancer Screening Knowledge University students Medical faculty Barriers |
| title | A cross-sectional study on colorectal cancer screening knowledge and barriers among university students |
| title_full | A cross-sectional study on colorectal cancer screening knowledge and barriers among university students |
| title_fullStr | A cross-sectional study on colorectal cancer screening knowledge and barriers among university students |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cross-sectional study on colorectal cancer screening knowledge and barriers among university students |
| title_short | A cross-sectional study on colorectal cancer screening knowledge and barriers among university students |
| title_sort | cross sectional study on colorectal cancer screening knowledge and barriers among university students |
| topic | Colorectal cancer Screening Knowledge University students Medical faculty Barriers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22510-z |
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