Awareness of lifestyle and colorectal cancer risk: findings from the BeWEL study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Awareness of lifestyle and colorectal cancer risk

T2 - findings from the BeWEL study

AU - Anderson, Annie S.

AU - Caswell, Stephen

AU - Macleod, Maureen

AU - Craigie, Angela M.

AU - Stead, Martine

AU - Steele, Robert J. C.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - It is estimated that 47% of colorectal cancers (CRC) could be prevented by appropriate lifestyles. This study aimed to identify awareness of the causes of CRC in patients who had been diagnosed with a colorectal adenoma through the Scottish bowel screening programme and subsequently enrolled in an intervention trial (using diet and physical activity education and behavioural change techniques) (‘BeWEL’). At baseline and 12 month follow up, participants answered an open-ended question on factors that influenced the development of CRC. Of the 329 participants at baseline 40 (12%) reported that they did not know any risk factors and a further 36 (11%) failed to identify specific factors related to diet and activity. From a potential knowledge score of 1 to 6, the mean score was 1.5 (SD1.1, range 0 to 5) with no difference between intervention and control groups. At follow up, the intervention group had a significantly greater knowledge score as well as better weight loss, diet, and physical activity measures than the control group. Awareness of relevant lifestyle factors for CRC remains low in people at increased risk of the disease. Opportunities within the routine NHS screening setting to aid the capability (including knowledge of risk factors) of individuals to make effective behavioural changes to reduce CRC risk deserve exploration.

AB - It is estimated that 47% of colorectal cancers (CRC) could be prevented by appropriate lifestyles. This study aimed to identify awareness of the causes of CRC in patients who had been diagnosed with a colorectal adenoma through the Scottish bowel screening programme and subsequently enrolled in an intervention trial (using diet and physical activity education and behavioural change techniques) (‘BeWEL’). At baseline and 12 month follow up, participants answered an open-ended question on factors that influenced the development of CRC. Of the 329 participants at baseline 40 (12%) reported that they did not know any risk factors and a further 36 (11%) failed to identify specific factors related to diet and activity. From a potential knowledge score of 1 to 6, the mean score was 1.5 (SD1.1, range 0 to 5) with no difference between intervention and control groups. At follow up, the intervention group had a significantly greater knowledge score as well as better weight loss, diet, and physical activity measures than the control group. Awareness of relevant lifestyle factors for CRC remains low in people at increased risk of the disease. Opportunities within the routine NHS screening setting to aid the capability (including knowledge of risk factors) of individuals to make effective behavioural changes to reduce CRC risk deserve exploration.

U2 - 10.1155/2015/871613

DO - 10.1155/2015/871613

M3 - Article

C2 - 26504842

SN - 2314-6133

VL - 2015

JO - BioMed Research International

JF - BioMed Research International

M1 - 871613

ER -