ADOLESCENTS AND CANCER: A SURVEY OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT CANCER IN EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA

OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia towards cancer. METHODOLOGY: A pre-structured tested and revised questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample from four high schools (two males and two females) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 572 adolescents. There was a marked variability in knowledge across informational items, particularly about the possible causes and how to avoid developing cancer. CONCLUSION: Students possess some knowledge of cancer, although this knowledge was not uniform. There were misconceptions about cancer and its pervention. The researcher concludes that the development and implementation of school health education programs on cancer are needed in this population.