Factors Influencing Colorectal Cancer Recognition

Background: With the increasing incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC), this disease has become a major public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries like Saudi Arabia. The public must acknowledge its risk factors and screening tests for early detection and better diagnosis. Nonetheless, little is known about CRC awareness among Saudi Arabian. Aim: This study aims to determine the knowledge about CRC among the local population of the Hail region. Materials and Methods: To evaluate respondents’ awareness of CRC, a cross-sectional study was conducted from March to December 2024 utilizing a predesigned and piloted questionnaire of 15 questions. An online Google Form was used to gather data on several points such as risk factors demographics awareness of CRC and disease-related knowledge. Results: A total of 370 respondents of at least 18 years old participated in this study. Most were female (58.6%), 50% were aged between 18 and 24, and 51.6% were students of them 51.1% had an advanced level of education. Most (70.5%) had heard of CRC, and 38.1% had a positive family history. The participants displayed inadequate recognition of symptoms, with only 41.9% appropriately recognizing 4 or more out of 5 symptoms. Similarly, 31.4% could identify 5 or more out of 7 risk factors. Even though 72% of respondents believed that screening is crucial, only 68% had been screened in the previous 10 years. Conclusion: There are significant knowledge gaps concerning symptoms and risk factors of CRC. Despite the high perceived importance, participants had low screening rates.