Awareness about anticancer fruits: a questionnaire based study

ABSTRACT

Cancers have been the leading cause of death worldwide and poor diet and physical inactivity are major risk factors in cancer-related deaths. Cancer caused over 8 million deaths worldwide in 2013 and has moved from the third leading cause of death in 1990 to the second leading cause behind cardiovascular disease in 2013. Aim of this study was to assess the base line knowledge of Dental Graduates about the anti-cancer dietary components with the aim that their knowledge will have an impact on the awareness of the community. The study was conducted through a 18 instrument questionnaire on a sample consisted of sixty four dental graduates [24 males and 40 females] from University College of Dentistry, The University of Lahore. Awareness regarding different fruits that can have anticancer effect was assessed through the questionnaire. Dental graduates were aware of the fact that different fruits have an anticancer effect thus should be included in the diet however, it was important to note that only 61.33% dental graduates were aware of the fact that citrus fruits exhibit anti carcinogenic activity. Moreover in this study 40%, 55.67% and 50.33% dental graduates considered straw berries, rasp berries and blue berries respectively exhibiting anti-carcinogenic effect. Awareness level of dental graduates regarding role of berry fruit as anti-carcinogen was limited. This study concludes that though base line knowledge about anti-cancer diet was there but further anticancer diet awareness surveys and programs are needed. This may help in changing the dietary habits and thus may help in reducing the increasing incidence of cancers