Factors Influencing Preventive Health Behaviors for Cancer in Undergraduates

Yang, Ya Ki

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to investigate factors influencing preventive health behaviors in undergraduates, including knowledge about, and attitudes to cancer.
METHODS
The participants were 219 undergraduates in H, and C Universities in G City, and K University in S City. Data were collected from April 1 to June 30, 2014, and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21.0.
RESULTS
The mean score for knowledge about cancer was 18.70. The mean score for attitude to cancer was 3.19, and the mean score for preventive health behaviors was 3.12. Knowledge about cancer showed a positive correlation with attitude to cancer and a positive correlation with preventive health behaviors. Attitude to cancer showed a positive correlation with preventive health behaviors. Significant factors that influenced preventive health behaviors for cancer were attitudes to cancer, age, worries about cancer, smoking, and regular exercise. These variables explained 43.5% of preventive health behaviors for cancer.
CONCLUSION
Findings of this study indicate that programs to enhance positive attitudes to cancer prevention should be developed to increase preventive health behaviors in undergraduates and that further study should be done on the effects of such programs.