title: Results of cancer information assessment of high school students in West Virginia.
abstract: The "Just Say KNOW To Cancer" education program was implemented in public high schools in Kanawha County, W.Va., to assess students' knowledge of cancer risk factors and to provide an educational program about cancer prevention. An anonymous questionnaire was completed in two urban and six suburban schools by 1,235 students in their classrooms. The responses revealed that only 35% and 10% of students were able to identify two or more risk factors and one American Cancer Society warning sign, respectively. Tobacco was the most commonly identified risk factor, being listed by 64% of urban students, compared to 50% of suburban respondents (p < .001). Although 84% of all students correctly answered the question regarding the medical complications of smokeless tobacco, only 39% correctly answered the question relating second-hand smoke as a cancer risk factor. The results of this study indicate the need for cancer education in the high school health curriculum.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Center of Southern West Virginia, Charleston Area Medical Center.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jubelirer
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Blanton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hanshew
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014903:West Virginia