Cancer Awareness and Behavioral Determinants Associated with Cancer Prevention—a Quantitative Study Among Young Adults in Rural Settings

Abstract

Although college is a crucial time to establish healthy behaviors for cancer prevention, little is known about cancer awareness and behaviors among US college students in less economically developed, rural areas. The purpose of this study was to examine college students' cancer-preventative knowledge and health behaviors. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a large southeastern university in the USA, on a convenience sample of students attending a campus-wide health education class. Data were collected during April and May 2017. Pearson's chi-square tests, independent samples t test, and one-way ANOVA were used. Participants (n = 1511) were female (59.1%), non-Hispanic White (69.7%), first-year college students (76.7%), and either 18 (35.9%) or 19 (44.6%) years old. Participants recognized an average of 6.69 (SD = 3.08) out of 11 risk factors on the Cancer Awareness Measure (Cronbach's alpha = 0.874), with a statistically significant difference observed by gender (t(1471) = − 3.348, p = 0.001), but not by race ((F(2,1474) = 1.742, p = 0.176). Chi-square analyses revealed significant associations by gender for exercise (p < 0.001), tobacco use (p < 0.001), and alcohol use (p < 0.001). Significant associations were also found by race/ethnicity for exercise (p < 0.001), tobacco use (p < 0.001), alcohol use (p < 0.001), and fruit and vegetable consumption (p = 0.035). Findings indicate a need to educate college students to recognize and modify cancer-related behavioral risk factors, particularly dietary habits. Specifically, health campaigns to reduce gender and racial gaps in cancer-preventative knowledge and behavior among first-year students are recommended.

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