Abstract

Perceived Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Barriers to Screening among Adult Saudi: A Population-Based Study

Objectives: Aimed to assess the level of awareness and the perceived factors about CRC screening among adult Saudi. Methodology: A Population-based, cross-sectional study. Participants: Adult Saudi general population. Results: Among 1612 respondents 1568 eligible were included. Neither gender (p=0.51), level of education (p=0.72), income (p=0.22), nor marital status (p=0.88) were found to be statistically associated with willingness to undergo CRC screening. With regards to the awareness related to CRC incidence and risk such as “leading cause death due to CRC” “increased age is associated with increased risk of developing CRC” “both men and women are at risk for getting CRC” “People with a family history of CRC are at higher risk” and” most CRCs begin as a growth in the colon or rectum” was found to be 29.5%, 31.5%, 37.7%, 28.8%, and 22.5% respectively. 12.7% of the respondents were agreed to be routinely screened for CRC at age 45, 22.4% can identify the required frequency of CRC screening. Those who had not heard about CRC screening methods were female and were young (p=0.003); with low educational level (p<0.001). (61%) were ready to undergo CRC screening if recommended by their medical doctor while 16% of them said they would never think of doing CRC screening (p<0.0001). Regarding CRC screening options, 53% select FOBT and 39% preferred colonoscopy (p<0.0001). (57.0%) revealed that their “Fear of finding cancer “was a barrier to screening. Conclusion: Majority of our respondents shows insufficient awareness regarding CRC screening guideline and CRC screening methods.

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