Knowledge and Beliefs of Malaysian Adolescents Regarding Cancer

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Few studies have explored the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents toward cancer preventionand treatment. This lack of research and its potential utility in the development of new educational initiativesand screening methods, or the reconstruction of existing ones, provided the impetus for this study. The primaryresearch aim was to assess secondary school student knowledge of cancer and determine whether or not theypossessed basic knowledge of cancer symptoms, risk factors, and treatments and to determine the relationshipbetween cancer knowledge and key demographic factors. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: The Management andScience University conducted a cross-sectional study analyzing responses through cross-tabulation with thesocio-demographic data collected. <br/><b>Results</b>: The findings of our quantitative analysis suggest that Malaysianyouth generally possess a moderate knowledge about cancer. Quantitative analyses found that socioeconomicinequalities and bias in education present as important factors contributing to cancer awareness, prevention,and treatment among Malaysian adolescents. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: The findings indicate that Malaysian youth generallypossess a moderate knowledge about cancer but the current deficiencies in initiatives directed to cancer awarenesscontinue to hinder the improvement in prevention of cancer among Malaysian adolescents.