Knowledge about Colorectal Cancer in Northern Iran: a Population-Based Telephone Survey.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to assess the general knowledge of CRC in individuals living in Rasht, Iran, using a population-based cross-sectional telephone survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1557 participants between 18 and 80 years of age were interviewed using random sampling from the telephone directory. Knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and prevention of CRC was assessed using a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean knowledge level of the 1,557 respondents (average age 46 y) was 13.5 ± 4.29 (maximum possible score = 26), and 46.4% (722/1,557) of the subjects achieved grades lower than the mean score. The mean scores for knowledge of symptoms and risk factors were 3.97 ± 1.83 (range: 0-7) and 5.17 ± 1.65 (range: 0-9), respectively. Older age, higher education, and employment were significantly associated with better scores for recognition of risk factors and warning symptoms. The majority of subjects correctly identified weight loss (70.2%; 1,093/1,557) and rectal bleeding (63.3%; 986/1,557) as symptoms of CRC, and that smoking (85.9%; 1,337/1,557) and a low- fiber diet (73.4%; 1,143/1,557) were risk factors. Approximately half of the subjects noted increasing age, genetic background and fried food as other risk factors. A considerable number (54.8%; 853/1,557) identified colonoscopy as a screening method for detecting CRC in asymptomatic patients. However, a third of the subjects in the target group for screening (≥ 50 y) were not interested in undergoing screening, primarily due to a lack of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the knowledge of CRC is poor among the public, and therefore greater attempts should be made to increase awareness. Public education emphasizing the risk factors and symptoms of CRC, as well as the importance of regular screening regardless of the presence of symptoms, may help to reduce CRC morbidity and mortality.

Colonoscopy outcome in North of Iran (Guilan): 2006-2009.

UNLABELLED: Colonoscopy is a procedure that used largely, in assessment, screening & management of lower gastrointestinal disease. Some of these diseases that assessed are colorectal cancer, polyps & inflammatory bowel disease. The goal of this study is determining of frequency of lower GI disease among patient who have elective colonoscopy. This cross-sectional study was conducted retrospective. Samples collected from the census method of colonoscopy patients in Razi hospital, from March 21th in 2006 to March 20th in 2009. Patients' data including age, sex, location and type of lesion found by colonoscopy and pathology diagnosis were collected and at the end necessary information collected into the SPSS software (version 16) for analyzing with the help of statistical tests Chi-square. Significant findings: Of 1398 patients, 683 patients (48/8 %) were male and 715 (51/2 %) were female 494 patients (35/3%) had normal results. Hemorrhoids (22/6 %) and polyps (14/8 %) were the most abundant lesions discovered by colonoscopy. The most common site of lesions among patients with abnormal colonoscopy findings, were anal canal and anus (43/8 %) and rectosigmoid (26%). The findings in both males and females, revealed no statistical differences. CONCLUSION: Colonoscopic detection of hemorrhoids is a common finding in patient undergone colonoscopy. The most frequent site for lesions which found in anal canal and anus. In addition to, normal findings had a high rate and it indicates that unnecessary colonoscopy have been required by physicians.