Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, Tata Memorial Centre (ACTREC), Kharghar, Navi Mumbai; Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra State, India.
Tata Memorial Centre, Parel; Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra State, India.
Indian J Cancer. 2022 Jan-Mar;59(1):80-86. doi: 10.4103/ijc.IJC_629_19.
Promoting awareness of tobacco and cancer in the community needs multipronged efforts. We performed a study to evaluate whether we could raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco, oral and esophageal cancer among school students by providing them health education. Moreover, we also compared the awareness level in students of age group 12 to ≤14 years with the age group >14 to 18 years.
We conducted an awareness program in the schools of Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state. Students aged 12-18 years participated in this study. We provided health education to school students using a standard presentation; the presentation was rich in illustrations depicting the harmful effects of tobacco as well as oral and esophageal cancer's signs, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures. After the health talk, a questionnaire was circulated. The questions were focused on tobacco, signs, and symptoms of the diseases along with early detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer.
A total of 1354 students participated in the program. Totally, 567 (41.9%) students were from 6 to 8 grade (Group A, age group 12 to ≤14) and 787 (58.1%) students were from 9 to 12th standards (Group B, age group >14 to 18). Overall scores were high, ranging from 69% to 98%. Group A scored in the range of 69% to 95%, and Group B scored in the range 72%-98% The difference between the two groups was found to be statistically significant (P-value ≤0.05).
A standardized health education program helped to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and cancer amongst school children. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether educating school children has an impact on community understanding of the disease.
在社区中提高对烟草和癌症的认识需要多管齐下。我们进行了一项研究，通过向学生提供健康教育，评估我们是否能够提高他们对烟草、口腔和食管癌危害的认识。此外，我们还比较了 12 至≤14 岁年龄组和>14 至 18 岁年龄组学生的意识水平。
我们在马哈拉施特拉邦拉特纳吉里区的学校开展了一项意识计划。12-18 岁的学生参加了这项研究。我们使用标准演示文稿向学生提供健康教育；演示文稿内容丰富，包括描绘烟草危害以及口腔和食管癌的迹象、症状、诊断、治疗和预防措施的插图。健康讲座结束后，我们分发了一份问卷。问题集中在烟草、疾病的迹象和症状以及癌症的早期发现、预防和治疗上。
共有 1354 名学生参加了该计划。共有 567 名（41.9%）学生来自 6 至 8 年级（A 组，年龄组 12 至≤14 岁），787 名（58.1%）学生来自 9 至 12 年级（B 组，年龄组>14 至 18 岁）。总分为 69%至 98%。A 组的分数在 69%至 95%之间，B 组的分数在 72%-98%之间，两组之间的差异有统计学意义（P 值≤0.05）。
标准化健康教育计划有助于提高学童对烟草和癌症危害的认识。需要进一步研究，以评估教育学童是否对社区对该疾病的理解产生影响。
