KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES TOWARD COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING AND ITS BARRIERS AMONG THE GENERAL POPULATION OF HAFR AL-BATIN, SAUDI ARABIA

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of death and incidents worldwide, includingin Saudi Arabia. It is considered one of the preventable cancers through the adoption of healthier lifestyles anddiets. This study aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to CRC among the populationof Hafr Al-Batin and identify the barriers that hinder the participant from participating in colorectal cancerscreening.Methods: The study included 787 participants from the population of Hafr Al-Batin. Data were collectedthrough a self-administered, validated questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 27 to derive key insights.Results: The study results indicate that 207 individuals (26.3%) had a high level of knowledge about colorectalcancer screening, 312 individuals (39.6%) had a medium level of knowledge, and 268 individuals (34.1%) hada low level of knowledge. A significant majority,490 individuals (62.2%), strongly agree on the importance ofknowing about colorectal cancer, and 533 individuals (67.7%) strongly agree that CRC diagnosed at an earlystage can be treated more effectively. Regarding barriers to colorectal cancer screening, the primary issuereported was fear or anxiety about discovering colorectal cancer, with 516 respondents (65.6%) expressingthis concern. Education level and gender were statistically associated with knowledge about colorectal cancer(p-value <0.05).Conclusion: The study highlights the low participation in early colorectal cancer screening, despite its recognizedimportance, due to barriers like fear, anxiety, and logistical challenges. It calls for targeted solutions, includingawareness programs, improved access to services, and financial support, to overcome these obstacles andboost screening rates.