Cancer Awareness of a Sample of Malaysian Undergraduate Students

Jo Lin Loo¹, Wan Yee Woo¹, Mun Wah Chin¹, Hui Ru Yam¹, Yee Kwang Ang¹ and Hip Seng Yim^1,

¹Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Cite this paper:
Jo Lin Loo, Wan Yee Woo, Mun Wah Chin, Hui Ru Yam, Yee Kwang Ang and Hip Seng Yim. Cancer Awareness of a Sample of Malaysian Undergraduate Students. American Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2013; 1(1):9-13. doi: 10.12691/ajcp-1-1-3

Abstract

Cancer is the second cause of premature deaths globally. In Malaysia, a total of 18,219 new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2007. Cancer is preventable and potentially avoidable disease, mainly by tackling modifiable risk factors, increasing participation in cancer screening tests and early detection of cancer through the recognition of early cancer signs. Cancer awareness was assessed using a validated and reliable self-administered questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient > 0.77) containing 63 items which included awareness (cancer early signs and symptoms, and cancer screening tests); cancer risk factors knowledge; attitude towards cancer prevention; and barriers in seeking cancer and health information. A total of 965 students (36.0% males and 64.0% females) participated with informed consent. Majority of the students were from private universities (73.1%) while 26.9% were from public universities. Majority of the students had low awareness (94.4%) and knowledge (64.9%) scores but have high attitude scores (76.9%). Awareness, knowledge and attitude scores were significantly higher among female students and science faculty students. Only knowledge score was significantly higher among students from Chinese ethnicity. Emotional and practical barriers were determined as the main barrier in seeking medical advice among the participants. This study provides a valuable basis of information toward the formulation of relevant cancer prevention strategies, especially within the scope of health education among the undergraduate students.

Keywords:
cancer awareness questionnaire (CAQ) knowledge attitude barriers undergraduate students

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	National Cancer Registry (NCR), Malaysia, National cancer registry report: Malaysia cancer statistics - data and figure 2007, Ministry of Health, Malaysia, 2007.
[2]	American Cancer Society (ACS). Global cancer facts & figures, 2nd edition, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, 2011.
[3]	Shih, J.Y., Yuan, A., Chen, J.J.W. and Yang, P.C, “Tumor-associated macrophage: Its role in cancer invasion and metastasis,” J Cancer Molecules, 2(3). 101-106. 2006.
[4]	Yokota, J, “Tumor progression and metastasis,” Carcinogenesis, 21(3). 497-503. 2000.
[5]	Stein, C.J. and Colditz, G.A, “Modifiable risk factors for cancer,” Br J Cancer, 90(2). 299-303. 2004.
[6]	McCaffery, K., Wardle, J. and Waller, J, “Knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions in relation to the early detection of colorectal cancer in the United Kingdom,” Prev Med, 36(5). 525-535. 2003.
[7]	Miller, M., Kearney, N. and Smith, K, “Measurement of cancer attitudes: A review,” Eur J Oncol Nurs, 4(4). 233-245. 2000.
[8]	Park, S., Bae, J., Nam, B.H. and Yoo, K.Y, “Aetiology of cancer in asia,” Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev, 9(3). 371-380. 2008.
[9]	Cancer Research UK, Cancer awareness measure (CAM) toolkit (version 2), Cancer Research UK, University College London, Kings College and University of Oxford, 2008.
[10]	Nik Rosmawati, N.H, “Knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self-examination among women in suburban area in Terengganu, Malaysia,” Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev, 11. 1503-1508. 2010.
[11]	Waller, J., Robb, K., Stubbings, S., Ramirez, A., Macleod, U., Austoker, J., Hiom, S. and Wardle, J, “Awareness of cancer symptoms and anticipated help seeking among ethnic minority groups in England,” Br J Cancer, 101 (S2). S24-S30. 2009.
[12]	Harmy, M.Y., Norwati, D., Norhayati, M.N. and Amry, A.R, “Knowledge and attitude of colorectal cancer screening among moderate risk patients in West Malaysia,” Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev, 12(8). 1957-1960. 2011.
[13]	Hashim, S., Tong, S.F., Omar, K., et al, “Knowledge of colorectal cancer among patients presenting with rectal bleeding and its association with delay in seeking medical advice,” Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev, 12(8). 2007-2011. 2011.
[14]	Al Dubai, S.A.R., Ganasgeran, K., Alabsi, A.M., Alshagga, M.A. and Ali, R.S, “Awareness and Knowledge of oral cancer among university students in Malaysia,” Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev, 13 (1). 165-168. 2012.
[15]	Keeney, S., McKenna, H., Fleming, P. and McIlfatrick, S, “An exploration of public knowledge of warning signs for cancer,” Eur J Oncol Nurs, 15 (1). 31-37. 2011.
[16]	Robb, K., Stubbings, S., Ramirez, A., et al, “Public awareness of cancer in Britain: A population-based survey of adults,” Br J Cancer, 101(S2). S18-S23. 2009.
[17]	Power, E., Simon, A., Juszcyk, D., Hiom, S. and Wardle, J, “Assessing awareness of colorectal cancer symptoms: Measure development and results from a population survey in the UK,” Bio Med Central, 11(1). 366-375. 2011.
[18]	Tan, Y.Y., Hesham, R. and Qodriyah, H.M.S, “Knowledge and attitude of university students in health sciences on the prevention of cervical cancer,” Med J Malaysia, 65(1). 53-57. 2010.
[19]	Al-Naggar, R.A. and Chen, R, “Nutrition and cancer prevention: Knowledge, attitudes and practices among young Malaysians,” Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev, 12(3). 691-694. 2011.
[20]	Nooijer, J., Lechner, L. and Vries, H, “Early detection of cancer: Knowledge and behavior among Dutch adults,” Cancer Detect Prev, 26(5). 362-369. 2002.
[21]	Simon, A.E., Waller, J., Robb, K. and Wardle, J, “Patient delay in presentation of possible cancer symptoms: The contribution of knowledge and attitudes in a population sample from the United Kingdom,” Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 19(9). 2272-2277. 2010.