Awareness of Cancer, Risk Factors and Barriers to Seeking Medical Help among University Students in Oman

OBJECTIVE: Cancer patients in Oman tend to be diagnosed at a young age and present at advanced stages, leading to a poor prognosis. This study aimed to assess awareness of cancer causes, risk factors, and symptoms among university students at the Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. It also aimed to assess barriers to seeking medical help. METHODS: A cross-sectional study utilizing the Arabic-language validated version of the Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire to collect data from university students from September 2015 to March 2016. RESULTS: Six hundred and nineteen students participated in the study, 64.3% were female, 87.7% were under 25 years of age, and 91.9% were undergraduate students. More than half (55.6%) considered cancer to be common in Oman, and the majority (94.2%) thought cancer could be cured if detected early. Smoking was the most commonly recognized risk factor (99.0%), followed by alcohol consumption (92.6%). The most frequently recognized cancer symptom was an unexplained lump/swelling (87.1%), whereas the least recognized was persistent cough/hoarseness (35.4%). Most students (79.0%) claimed they would seek medical help within 1 week of onset if they experienced unexplained bleeding; however, a considerable proportion would not seek help for unexplained weight loss (21.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Although the university students were able to recognize common cancer risks, there was low awareness of certain lifestyle factors and cancer symptoms. In addition, a considerable proportion of students identified both practical and emotional barriers to seeking medical help. Cancer education campaigns are necessary to increase awareness of specific risk factors and symptoms.