Date of Completion

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Keywords

Colon cancer, cancer diseases

Abstract

Colon cancer is among the leading cancer diseases worldwide, and its incidence among younger generations is increasing. Prevention and early detection require a high degree of awareness concerning risk factors among future healthcare workers, particularly the health science students. Understanding factors that affect student awareness could influence appropriate health education interventions and help decelerate colon cancer burden. A descriptive research design was employed, and quantitative data were gathered using a structured, researcher-constructed questionnaire. A total of 276 undergraduate students from all academic programs at De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute participated, selected through quota sampling based on the modified Cochran Formula. The correlations between awareness levels and variables such as sex, academic program, socioeconomic status, sources of information, religion, and food preference were examined using appropriate statistical tests. The respondents represented a diverse range of age groups, sex, academic programs, socioeconomic statuses, religions, food preferences, and sources of information. Among the factors examined, only academic program and sources of information showed statistically significant associations with the level of awareness of colon cancer risks. Students enrolled in the Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy demonstrated higher levels of awareness, likely due to their consistent exposure to medical content and health promotion in their academic curriculum. Similarly, students who primarily accessed information through social media and academic or professional sources exhibited higher awareness levels. In contrast, no significant differences in awareness were observed across age, sex, socioeconomic status, religion, or food preference, indicating these factors had minimal influence on students’ awareness in this study. The results indicated that there were major differences in the awareness of colon cancer risk based on academic program and information sources, with students from the College of Nursing and the College of Medical Laboratory Sciences having the highest levels of awareness among the different colleges in De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute. Furthermore, students depending on social media were more alert compared to students who depended primarily on academic and professional sources, mirroring international trends wherein young adults in greater numbers consume health information online owing to their ease of use, convenience, and interactivity. Despite of these variations, there were no meaningful correlations for socioeconomic status, sex, religion, food preference, or age, indicating that all of these demographic variables had little influence on awareness in this research. These findings reinforce the necessity of inclusive health education programs that go beyond specialist academic training and cater to all student groups evenly, with specific focus on enhancing access to sound health information among non-medical students and those who use informal sources of information. By acknowledging these imbalances, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute can cultivate a knowledgeable student population that can effectively promote colon cancer prevention and early detection, being inclusive and ready to meaningfully contribute to public health efforts.

First Advisor

Shirley A. Terencio, RN, MPA, PhD

Download

Share

COinS