Knowledge, awareness and attitude towards cancer: An intervention-based study among the students of the University of Delhi, India

Abstract

There are limited studies evaluating the knowledge of the student communities in India about cancer. The present study assesses the knowledge, awareness and attitude of the students of the University of Delhi, India towards cancer. Two sets of structured questionnaires (set 1& 2) were used for the survey. Set 1 was used for the survey of 1000 students, comprising 500 male and 500 female students. The data was collected using a self-designed Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) on a Likert scale (1-5) and was subsequently converted to scores. The significance of the scores was evaluated by one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). A Set 2 questionnaire was used for the follow-up survey. The results of the survey based on the Set 1 questionnaire indicated that the students had some knowledge about “cancer risk factors, types of cancer, and sources of cancer awareness”. However, students lacked knowledge about “cancer symptoms and age susceptibility to cancer”. Consequent to this survey, awareness programs were conducted among these students spread over 5 months. The awareness gained was assessed by the follow-up surveys using the Set 2 questionnaire (split into pre- and post-follow-up studies). The awareness campaigns significantly increased the knowledge and changed the attitude of the students towards cancer. This study thus highlights the need and effectiveness of awareness campaigns with special reference to student communities in countries such as India.