Associations between Colorectal Cancer Risk Perception and Dietary Patterns among University Students in the Caribbean: A Cross- Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Background: Early perceptions of risk for chronic non-communicable diseases have been seen to be attributed to unhealthy lifestyles from as early as the stage of late adolescence; this relationship, however, has not been examined in the context of dietary patterns. This study investigated the relationship between risk perception for colorectal cancer (CRC) and dietary patterns among university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1056 university students was conducted collecting data on demographics, lifestyle, and dietary patterns were obtained using a structured paper-based questionnaire. Principle component analysis (PCA) was used to identify dietary patterns and logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between perceived risk for CRC and dietary patterns adjusting for confounders. Results: PCA analysis identified three main dietary patterns- westernized, prudent and dairy. The majority of participants (90%) perceived their risk for CRC as none/low. No significant differences were observed between dietary (western and prudent) patterns and risk perceptions (p>0.05). Higher consumptions of westernized diets were significantly associated with higher risk perceptions (OR= 1.13, p=0.022). Greater adherence to prudent (OR= 1.01, p=0.94) and dairy (OR=0.97, p=0.642) patterns didn’t significantly influence risk perceptions for CRC. Conclusion: Diets influenced highly on westernized patterns may increase one’s subjective perception of risk for developing CRC in the future. Cancer prevention marketing strategies are needed at the university level in assisting to combat the rise of the incidence of cancer globally.