title: Attitudes towards colorectal cancer (CRC) and CRC screening tests among elderly Malay patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in Malaysia, where data are limited regarding knowledge and barriers in regard to CRC and screening tests. The aim of the study was to assess these parameters among Malaysians.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaires were distributed in the Umra Private Hospital in Selangor. The questionnaire had four parts and covered social-demographic questions, respondent knowledge about CRC and colorectal tests, attitude towards CRC and respondentaction regarding CRC. More than half of Malay participants (total n=187) were female (57.2%) and 36.9% of them were working as professionals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the participants (93.6%) never had a CRC screening test. The study found that only 10.2% of the study participants did not consider that their chances of getting CRC were high. A high percentage of the participants (43.3%) believed that they would have good chance of survival if the cancer would be found early. About one third of the respondents did not want to do screening because of fear of cancer, and concerns of embarrassment during the procedure adversely affected attitude to CRC screening as well. Age, gender, income, family history of CRC, vegetable intake and physical activity were found to be significant determinants of knowledge on CRC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The major barriers identified towards CRC screening identified in our study were fear of pain and embarrassment. The findings have implications for understanding of similarities and differences in attitude to CRC amongst elderly patients in other cultural/ geographic regions.
authors: Population Health and Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, UniversitiTeknologi MARA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mail : radhwan888@yahoo.com.
authors: Redhwan A
authors: RA
authors: Al-Naggar
authors: Waqar
authors: W
authors: Al-Kubaisy
authors: Bee W
authors: BW
authors: Yap
authors: Yuri V
authors: YV
authors: Bobryshev
authors: Muhamed T
authors: MT
authors: Osman
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires