What do students of health sciences know about cancer preventive measures?

Introduction and Objective.Cancer prevention is a critical aspect of public health, aimed at reducing the burden of malignancies through early detection and intervention.This study investigates the awareness of cancer preventive measures among health science students in Poland, with a specific focus on their knowledge of screening tests for different types of cancers.The aim of the study was to analyze the level of knowledge of health students of the Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski University in Krakw, Poland, about the secondary prevention of malignant tumours.Material and Methods.The study was conducted using a questionnaire to assess the students' knowledge of cancer preventive measures, focusing on screening tests for various malignancies.The survey included questions concerning screening methods, age ranges for specific tests, risk factors, and personal behaviours.Ethical considerations were followed, ensuring participant confidentiality and informed consent.Results.The questionnaire was completed by 105 students of the following specialities: medicine (81.9%), nursing (6.7%), emergency medical services (1,9%), physiotherapy (2,9%), cosmetology (3.8%), and dietetics (2.9%).More than a half of respondents (61%) provided the correct answer to the question concerning the definition of a screening test.While answering the question regarding the types of cancer for which screening tests are performed 97.1% of respondents mentioned cervical cancer and breast cancer, 84.8% colon cancer, 36.2% melanoma, 38% lung cancer, 25.7% gastric cancer, 61.9% prostate cancer, and 37.1% ovarian cancer.The vast majority of respondents (96.1%) could identify tobaccorelated cancers.The part of the questionnaire concerning behaviours related with life style revealed that 99% of respondents use protection during sexual intercourse, 67.6% do not smoke cigarettes, and 87% do not consume alcohol more frequently than twice a week.In 88% of respondents the BMI does not exceed 30, and 64% of them undertake regular physical activity.Conclusions.The diversity of the respondents' level of knowledge and compliance with recommendations regarding screening tests, indicated the importance of education and emphasizing the importance of performing screening tests in society to ensure their thorough implementation.