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Omar Hasan Kasule Sr.[2]
Introduction: This is a continuation of the author’s study of cancer knowledge, attitudes, and practice among students to test the null hypothesis that knowledge does not on its own lead to changes in opinions, attitudes, or lifestyle practices.
Objectives: Explore the association between knowledge (K) and Opinions/attitudes (A) or practices (P) with regard to cancer prevention.
Methodology: Data was collected by questionnaire from medical students in years 1 -3 after informed consent. Data keying and editing was with Excel and analysis with SPSS version 12.0. The association between knowledge variables on one hand and opinion, attitude, and practice variables on the other hand was investigated using the Pearson chi-square test for association or Fischer’s exact test for small cell numbers. Adjustment for 2 potential confounders (gender and year of study) identified in an earlier analysis (Int Med J Vol 4 No. 1 June 2005) was carried out using multiple logistic regression models Levels for the stepwise regression model were set as 0.05 for entry and 0.1 for removal and the maximum number of iterations was set at 20.
Results: There was borderline association between knowledge and practice with regard to consumption of meat, fruits, and green vegetables. There was no significant association between knowledge on one hand and attitude with regard to smoking, meat consumption, and green vegetable consumption on the other.
Discussion and conclusions: Knowledge does not automatically lead to change of attitudes or practices. This should therefore prompt a re-examination of current health education strategies based on imparting knowledge. It should also lead to exploration to new methods of motivating change in behavior such as religious sermons or youth entertainment media.
TABLE 1: RELATION BETWEEN KNOWING THAT STOPPING SMOKING PREVENTS CANCER AND THE ATTITUDE OF NOT WANTING TO SIT NEXT TO SOMEONE SMOKING
Knowledge | Attitude: I do not want sitting next to someone smoking | ||
Agree | Do not agree | Total | |
Stopping smoking prevents cancer Agree Do not agree | 178 (92.7%) | 14(7.3%) | 192 (100%) |
1(100%) | 0(0%) | 1 (100%) | |
Total | 179 | 14 | 193 |
Exact p-value = 0.927
TABLE 2: RELATION BETWEEN KNOWING THAT STOPPING SMOKING PREVENTS CANCER AND THE PRACTICE OF SMIOKING
Knowledge | Practice: smoking status | ||
Smoker & ex-smoker | Never smoker | Total | |
Stopping smoking prevents cancer Agree Do not agree | 17(8.9%) | 174(91.1%) | 191(100%) |
0(0%) | 1(100%) | 1(100%) | |
Total | 17 | 175 | 192 |
Exact p-value = 0.911
TABLE 3: RELATION BETWEEN KNOWING THAT INCREASING MEAT INTAKE IN THE DIET PREVENTS CANCER and THE ATTITUDE OF NOT BEING CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS EATEN
Knowledge | Attitude: I do not care what I eat | ||
Agree | Do not agree | Total | |
Increasing meat intake prevents cancer Agree Do not agree | 4(22.2%) | 14(77.8%) | 18(100%) |
21(14.1%) | 128(85.9%) | 149(100%) | |
Total | 25 | 142 | 157 |
Exact p-value = 0.272
TABLE 4: RELATION BETWEEN KNOWING THAT INCREASING MEAT INTAKE IN THE DIET PREVENTS CANCER and THE PRACTICE OF MEAT CONSUMPTION
Knowledge | Practice: Meet consumption of per week | ||
7 times or more | Less than 7 times | Total | |
Increasing meat intake prevents cancer Agree Do not agree | 11(61.1%) | 7(38.9%) | 18 (100%) |
54(36.7%) | 93(63.3%) | 147 (100%) | |
Total | 65 | 100 | 165 |
Exact p-value = 0.042
TABLE 5: RELATION BETWEEN KNOWING THAT INCLUDING GREEN VEGETABLES AND FRUITS IN THE DIET PREVENTS CANCER and THE ATTITUDE OF NOT CARING ABOUT WHAT IS EATEN
Knowledge | Attitude: I do not care what I eat | ||
Agree | Do not agree | Total | |
Green vegetables and fruits prevents cancer Agree Do not agree | 22(13.7%) | 139(86.3%) | 161(100%) |
5(23.8%) | 16(76.2%) | 21(100%) | |
Total | 27 | 155 | 182 |
Exact p-value = 0.179
TABLE 6: RELATION BETWEEN KNOWING THAT INCLUDING GREEN VEGETABLES AND FRUITS IN THE DIET PREVENTS CANCER and THE PRACTICE OF FRUIT CONSUMPTION
Knowledge | Practice: Fruit consumption per week | ||
7 times or more | Less than 7 times | Total | |
Green vegetables and fruits prevents cancer Agree Do not agree | 15(9.4%) | 145(90.6%) | 160 |
5(23.8%) | 16(76.2%) | 21 | |
Total | 20 | 30 | 181 |
Exact p-value = 0.062
TABLE 7: RELATION BETWEEN KNOWING THAT INCLUDING GREEN VEGETABLES AND FRUITS IN THE DIET PREVENTS CANCER and THE PRACTICE OF GEEN VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION
Knowledge | Practice: Green vegetable consumption per week | ||||
0 times | 1-3 times | 4-6 times | 7+ times | Total | |
Green vegetables and fruits prevents cancer Agree Do not agree | 32(20.0%) | 6(3.8%) | 59(36.9%) | 63(39.4%) | 181(100%) |
2(9.5%) | 0(0%) | 4(19.0%) | 15(71.4%) | 21(100%) | |
Total | |||||
P value from Pearson chi square = 0.046
[1] Abstract presented at the Annual Academic Session of the Institute of Medicine Universiti Brunei Darussalam
[2] Professor of Epidemiology and Islamic Medicine Universiti Brunei Darussalam