Scientific Reports (Jun 2024)

Attitudes toward colorectal cancer and colonoscopy in Palestine: a questionnaire-based study

  • Mohamedraed Elshami,
  • Mohammed Ayyad,
  • Mohammed Alser,
  • Ibrahim Al-Slaibi,
  • Balqees M. Mohamad,
  • Maram Albandak,
  • Mohammad F. Dwikat,
  • Shoruq A. Naji,
  • Wejdan S. Isleem,
  • Adela Shurrab,
  • Bashar Yaghi,
  • Yahya Ayyash Qabaja,
  • Fatma K. Hamdan,
  • Raneen R. Sweity,
  • Remah T. Jneed,
  • Khayria A. Assaf,
  • Mohammed M. Hmaid,
  • Iyas I. Awwad,
  • Belal K. Alhabil,
  • Marah N. Alarda,
  • Amani S. Alsattari,
  • Moumen S. Aboyousef,
  • Omar A. Aljbour,
  • Rinad AlSharif,
  • Christy T. Giacaman,
  • Ali Y. Alnaga,
  • Ranin M. Abu Nemer,
  • Nada M. Almadhoun,
  • Sondos M. Skaik,
  • Shurouq I. Albarqi,
  • Bettina Bottcher,
  • Nasser Abu-El-Noor

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65653-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequent cause of cancer-related mortality in the Palestinian population. This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2019 to March 2020 and examined attitudes toward CRC and colonoscopy, as well as the interplay between both. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling from public spaces, governmental hospitals, and primary healthcare centers across 11 governorates in Palestine. Displaying a positive attitude was defined as agreeing on at least the median number of questions related to CRC (5 of 11 questions) or colonoscopy (6 of 10 questions). A total of 4623 participants were included. Most participants agreed that ‘early detection of CRC increases the possibility of more effective treatment’ (n = 4161, 89.7%). Similarly, the majority of participants agreed on ‘preferring a physician with a gender similar to the participants to perform the colonoscopy’ (n = 3738, 80.9%) and ‘willingness to have colonoscopy even if the participant had to pay for it’ (n = 3727, 80.6%). Furthermore, 3115 participants (67.4%) demonstrated positive attitudes toward CRC, while 2540 participants (55.0%) displayed similar attitudes toward colonoscopy. Participants from the West Bank and Jerusalem were more likely than those from the Gaza Strip to display positive attitudes toward colonoscopy (59.2% vs. 48.9%). Participants with positive attitudes toward CRC were more likely to also display positive attitudes toward colonoscopy and vice versa. About two thirds of study participants exhibited positive attitudes toward CRC, and 55.0% displayed positive attitudes toward colonoscopy. There was a reciprocal relationship between having positive attitudes toward CRC and colonoscopy.

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