0803P - KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES (KAP) REGARDING CANCER PREVENTION AMONG STUDENTS OF THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITI BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Omar Hasan Kasule Sr.¹

¹Institute of Medicine, Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

The paper reports results of a cross-sectional questionnaire study of students of the Institute of Medicine. An extensive questionnaire used previously by the author was employed to describe the profile of cancer KAP among the study subjects. The self administered self coding questionnaire was distributed after explaining the aims of the study and obtaining student consent. Data was coded and was analyzed using the SPSS and STATA packages. The data was summarized as proportions. Contingency 2 x 2 tables were generated and bivariate relations were tested using Fisher’s exact test. The analysis focused on the effect of gender and year of study on KAP indicators.

TABLE 1: RESPONSE PROPORTIONS BY GENDER and YEAR OF STUDY

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

All Years Combined

Gender

No.

Total

% Response

No.

Total

% Response

No.

Total

% Response

No.

Total

% Response

Male

Female

All

* The 2 extra students were repeating the year

TABLE 2: STUDY SAMPLE BY GENDER AND YEAR OF STUDY

	OVERALL	YEAR 1	YEAR 2	YEAR 3	Chi	P
Male
Female
Total

TABLE 3: NUMBER OF KAP VARIABLES IN EACH of 10 GROUPS BY CORRESPONDING KAP SCORE

	KAP SCORE (% OF RESPONDENTS GIVING AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE)
	91-100	81-90	51-80	<50	Total
1. Cancer sites
2. Cancer signs and symptoms
3. Cancer detection methods known
4. Cancer treatment methods
5. Cancer risk factors
6. Cancer prevention methods
7. Opinions on cancer
8. Attitudes to cancer
9. Health seeking behaviors
10. Smoking and dietary habits
Total

TABLE 4: KNOWLEDGE OF CANCER SITES

CANCER SITE	ALL YEARS COMBINED			year 2 and Year 3 vs. Year 1		Gender: Female vs. male
	n	N	%	OR (95% CI)	p	OR (95% CI)	P
Lung
Breast
Cervix
Mouth
Uterus
Blood
Intestine
Stomach
Bone
Skin
Eyes
Bladder
Kidney
Brain

TABLE 5: KNOWLEDGE OF CANCER SYMPTOMS and SIGNS

SYMPTOM / SIGN	ALL YEARS COMBINED			year 2 and Year 3 vs. Year 1		Gender: Female vs. male
	n	N	%	OR (95 % CI)	p	OR (95% CI)	p
Non-healing Ulcer
Inability to fall asleep (insomnia)
Abnormal secretion or bleeding
Increased appetite
Gradual hair loss (balding)
Swelling or thickening of any part of the  body
Frequently passing urine at night in a young person
Chronic cough
Prolonged diarrhea (at least 2 weeks)
Bloody cough
Sudden chest pain
Swelling of the breast during menstrual period
Difficulty in swallowing
Difficulty in passing motion (constipation) for more than 2 weeks
Frequent Bone Pains

TABLE 6: KNOWLEDGE OF CANCER DETECTION and TREATMENT METHODS

METHOD	ALL YEARS COMBINED			year 2 and Year 3 vs. Year 1		Gender: Female vs. male
CANCER DETECTION	n	N	%	OR (95% CI)	p	OR (95% CI)	p
Pap smear
Mammography
Breast Self-examination
Chest X-ray
Physician Regular Check-up
Stool Examination for blood
CANCER TREATMENT
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Surgery
Hormone therapy

TABLE 7: KNOWLEDGE OF CANCER RISK FACTORS AND METHODS OF PREVENTION

METHOD	ALL YEARS COMBINED			year 2 and Year 3 vs. Year 1		Gender: Female vs. male
CANCER RISK FACTORS	n	N	%	OR (95 % CI)	p	OR (95 % CI)	p
Tobacco: Cigarette smoking
Tobacco: chewing
Betel nut chewing
Diet: high lipid content
Diet: Low  vegetables & Fruits
Diet: Low  in fiber
Infections: Viral
Multiple sexual partners
Alcohol
Occupational Exposure
Chemicals and Drugs
CANCER PREVENTION METHODS	n	N	%	OR (95 % CI)	p	OR (95 % CI)	p
Stopping smoking
Avoid overeating
Frequently eating preserved food
Avoid drinking alcohol
Increase the intake of meat
Include green vegetables & fruits in diet
Increase fiber in the diet
Use of herbal medicine
Washing hands before meals
Avoiding sex with multiple partners
Get hepatitis B immunization