Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Awareness in Lebanon among the Young, Highly Educated Population

Abstract

The number of individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) is rising, coinciding with increased efforts to raise awareness about preventive healthcare. Awareness of CRC is crucial for early detection and higher survival rates. Although progress has been made globally, significant disparities still exist, especially in low- and middle-income regions like the Arab world. Lebanon's increasing CRC rates demand urgent, targeted actions to raise awareness, promote screening, and ultimately decrease mortality. This study involved 1,229 volunteers. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: the first assessed participants' willingness to undergo early screening and their knowledge of CRC signs, symptoms, and risk factors (including colonoscopy and FIT tests). The second gathered socio-demographic information such as age, gender, education level, living area, and marital status. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS software, version 26.0. Results showed that among those with a university education, 50.6% had never been screened, 13.7% had performed fecal testing, 16.4% had colonoscopies, and 19.3% had undergone both procedures. These figures are lower than the global rates of 38.4% for colonoscopies and 27.0% for fecal testing. Moreover, only 53.2% of respondents who were aware of CRC believed that risk could be reduced. Alarmingly, among highly educated individuals, 45.7% shared the negative attitude found in less educated groups. The findings suggest that effective CRC awareness campaigns should be incorporated into educational curricula, and CRC screening awareness initiatives should be made mandatory in schools. Healthcare providers should be encouraged to recommend FIT as a primary screening method, especially for asymptomatic individuals aged 45 and older or those at moderate risk. Community health centers, NGOs, and the Ministry of Public Health play vital roles in distributing FIT kits, especially in underserved or rural areas.