Evaluation and comparison of knowledge, attitude and behavior of patients with and without diagnosis of colorectal cancer in the first degree relatives

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the knowledge and attitudes of relatives of patients with colorectal cancer and those who do not have colorectal cancer. Methods: The study was conducted with the relatives of colorectal cancer patients who applied to the Oncology Polyclinic of Mustafa Kemal University Hospital and the patients who did not have colorectal cancer in the family who applied to the Family Medicine Polyclinic. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. It was conducted between May 2019 and August 2019. In the data collection, the questionnaire prepared by the researcher to determine the personal characteristics of the individuals participating in the study and the "Health Belief Model Scale for Colorectal Cancer Prevention" to determine the health beliefs were used. Results: The mean age of the 120 participants (60 cases, 60 control groups) was 36.59 ± 12.7 years, 55.8% (n = 67), women, 22.5% (n=27) housewives, 65.8% (n=79) is married and 69.2% (n=83) live in the city. 36.7% (n = 44) are university graduates and 10.8% (n=13) have diabetes as a comorbid disease. There was no difference between the case and control groups in terms of early diagnosis by colorectal cancer screening. There was no difference between groups in terms of screening methods. Colorectal cancer screening rate was significantly higher in the case group (p=0.004). The most frequently reported barriers to getting colorectal cancer screening tests were not knowing colorectal cancer and screening tests (38.3%) and not seeing themselves at high risk (37.5%). The confidence benefit perception score average of the control group was significantly higher than the average score of the case group (p = 0.018). Sensitivity perception, disability perception, health motivation and severity perception score averages were similar among the groups. Conclusion: Patients with near-first degree colorectal cancer and those without first-degree colorectal cancer had a high level of knowledge of cancer risk factors. However, healthy lifestyle habits and screening rates of the participants were low. Individuals need training about what screening criteria are and how to apply protective risk factors in their lives Key words: Colorectal cancer screening, knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, health belief model