Table 3 Respondent’s knowledge of risk factors and signs and symptoms of bowel cancer
Knowledge Item (n) | % Yes or Agree^ |
|---|---|
Risk Factors | |
Being overweight (91) | 82.4 |
Both men and women are at risk of bowel cancer (93) | 80.6 |
Smoking (91) | 80.2 |
Having other types of bowel disease (92) | 77.2 |
Diet can contribute to bowel cancer (93) | 76.3 |
Low levels of physical activity (92) | 75.0 |
History of polyps (93) | 74.2 |
Risk increases with age (92) | 72.8 |
Drinking too much alcohol (93) | 69.9 |
Both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people are at similar risk (93) | 69.0 |
Risk increases if a close relative has bowel cancer (93) | 55.9 |
Signs and Symptoms | |
Bleeding from the bowels (93) | 87.1 |
Change in bowel habits such as diarrhoea/constipation (92) | 76.1 |
Loss of weight for no reason (91) | 76.0 |
Persistent abdominal pain/cramps (93) | 75.3 |
Unexplained tiredness or weakness (91) | 71.4 |
Loss of appetite (92) | 67.4 |
Bowel cancer can be present without any symptoms (92) | 56.5 |