AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF COLORECTAL CANCER AMONG MEDICAL STAFF IN KSA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: This research aims to determine the Awareness and Knowledge of Colorectal Cancer among Medical Staff in KSA.

Methods: The study will be conducted in various healthcare settings across Saudi Arabia, including public and private hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and specialized clinics. This diverse setting will ensure a comprehensive understanding of the awareness and knowledge of CRC among medical staff working in different environments and regions within the country.

Results: The study included 350 participants. The most frequent weight among them was 86-95 kg (n= 114, 32.6%), followed by 96 kg and more kg (n= 83, 23.7%), then 76-85 kg (n=56, 16%). Figure 1 shows the weight distribution among study participants. The most frequent height among study participants was 161-170 cm (n= 132, 37.7%), followed by 151-160 cm (n= 124, 35.4%), then 150 cm and less (n=75, 21.4%). The most frequent gender among study participants was male (n= 206, 58.9%) and female (n= 144, 41.1%). The age among study participants with most of them had 36-40 years (n=96, 27.4%), followed by 31-35 years (n=88, 25.1%). The nationality among study participants with most of them had Saudi (n=302, 86.3%), and non-Saudi (n=48, 13.7%). The marital status among study participants with most of them had married (n=181, 51.7%), and divorced (n=71, 20.3%), then single (n=53, 15.1%) and widow (n=45, 12.9%). The participants were asked, "Have you heard of colorectal cancer?" and their responses were as follows: Yes (n=314, 89.7%) and no (n=36,10.2%). The participants were asked, "Have you heard of colorectal cancer screening?" and their responses were as follows: Yes (n=296, 84.5%) and no (n=54,15.4%). Participants were asked about recommend CRC screening to family members and friends. The most frequent Yes (n=341, 97.4%) and No (n=9, 2.5%).

Conclusion: The study highlights a high level of awareness and knowledge about colorectal cancer among medical staff in Saudi Arabia. Most participants recommended CRC screening for their families and friends, emphasizing the importance of early detection and preventive measures in reducing cancer mortality rates. However, there are still barriers such as limited resources and misconceptions that need to be addressed to improve screening participation rates further.