Knowledge about colorectal cancer and preferred health behaviors of the city and villages residents

Introduction: In Poland about 8 thousand of patients die due to colorectal cancer (CRC) each year.

Objective: To assess the knowledge about CRC and health behaviors in relation to sex and place of residence.

Material and methods: The study included 248 people and we used the original questionnaire and IZZ.

Results: 88.7% of respondents have heard about CRC. The genetic factor as a major cause predisposing to CRC was reported by 74.2% of urban and 73.3% rural respondents. Symptoms knew 46.1% of urban and 39.2% rural residents. Colonoscopy examination would performed by 52.3% of urban and 55% rural residents. 68.5% of respondents declared to improve their knowledge. 39.8% of the city had a high level of health behaviors, while more than 34% of those living in village had a low levels of health behavior. 40.7% of women had a high score of health behaviors, while 44.2% of men had a low rate of health behavior.

Conclusions: Higher level of knowledge about CRP and its prevention had the city residents than the village residents and women more than men. The respondents from the city and from the village, in the global assessment of health behaviors showed an average level. The highest levels of health behaviors examined were presented in terms of a positive mental attitude and the lowest in terms of healthy eating habits.