Mohamedali Lamees, Al-Kubaisi Mohammed, Alhaj Ahmad Shahem, Haroon Samiullah, Alshalkhaty Albara, Mohammed Hussein Daniah, Alhaj Ahmad Karam, Abueida Mohammed, Talaat Iman
College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates.
International School of Choueifat, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
J Community Health. 2025 Jun 9. doi: 10.1007/s10900-025-01475-5.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide, with its incidence rising in the Middle East. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), higher numbers of younger individuals are being diagnosed, likely due to unhealthy lifestyle habits. This study aims to investigate the relationship between CRC awareness and preventive lifestyle practices among varying risk groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the adult UAE population between October and December 2024. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire consisting of sociodemographics, CRC risk assessment, screening eligibility, and the Bowel Cancer Awareness Measure (BoCAM). Adherence to cancer-preventive lifestyle behaviors was assessed using the WCRF/AICR Score. 910 participants were surveyed. The median CRC knowledge score was 10 out of 22 (IQR = 6, 13). 57.4% lacked confidence in recognizing CRC symptoms. Higher knowledge scores were significantly associated with female sex, non-Emirati nationality, higher education, employment or studies in healthcare, and a first-degree family history of CRC. Despite having the highest knowledge levels, the higher CRC-risk group exhibited cancer-preventive behaviors comparable to the average and no-risk groups. Risk factor knowledge did not influence adherence to healthy dietary habits but was positively associated with increased physical activity. Few were aware of a CRC screening program (29%) and the recommended screening age (7%). Only 10.1% of screening-eligible participants had undergone CRC screening. Knowledge on CRC in the UAE is relatively low, with a gap between the public's awareness and their lifestyle practices. This calls for targeted educational campaigns and early detection strategies, particularly among higher-risk groups.
结直肠癌（CRC）是全球第三大常见癌症，在中东地区其发病率呈上升趋势。在阿拉伯联合酋长国（UAE），越来越多的年轻人被诊断出患有此病，这可能归因于不健康的生活习惯。本研究旨在调查不同风险群体中结直肠癌认知与预防性生活方式之间的关系。2024年10月至12月期间，对阿联酋成年人口进行了一项横断面研究。使用一份自我管理的问卷收集数据，问卷包括社会人口统计学、结直肠癌风险评估、筛查资格以及结直肠癌认知量表（BoCAM）。使用世界癌症研究基金会/美国癌症研究所（WCRF/AICR）评分评估对癌症预防生活方式行为的依从性。共调查了910名参与者。结直肠癌知识得分中位数为22分中的10分（四分位距=6，13）。57.4%的人在识别结直肠癌症状方面缺乏信心。较高的知识得分与女性、非阿联酋国籍、高等教育、医疗保健领域的就业或学习经历以及结直肠癌一级家族史显著相关。尽管结直肠癌风险较高的群体知识水平最高，但其癌症预防行为与平均风险群体和无风险群体相当。风险因素知识并未影响对健康饮食习惯的依从性，但与增加身体活动呈正相关。很少有人了解结直肠癌筛查项目（29%）和推荐的筛查年龄（7%）。只有10.1%符合筛查条件的参与者接受过结直肠癌筛查。阿联酋民众对结直肠癌的认知相对较低，公众的认知与生活方式之间存在差距。这需要开展有针对性的教育活动和早期检测策略，尤其是在高风险群体中。
