Knowledge, Attitude, and Preventive Health Behavior of Cancer in Middle-aged Men

Park, Youngrye; Wee, Hwee

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to identify the knowledge, attitude, and preventive health behavior of cancer in middle-aged men and to provide data for education program regarding cancer prevention.
METHODS
This study was a descriptive research using a questionnaire, which included 20 items for knowledge, 10 items for attitude, and 18 items for preventive health behavior of cancer. Data were collected from 140 middle-aged men. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used with SPSS/WIN 18.0 to analyze the data.
RESULTS
The mean score for knowledge of cancer was 11.58 (range 0~20), for attitude, 37.52 (range 5~50), and for preventive health behavior of cancer, 58.85 (range 18~90). Preventive health behavior of cancer showed a significantly positive correlation with knowledge (r=.27, p=.001) and attitude (r=.31, p<.001) toward cancer. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, knowledge and attitude toward cancer were significant factors affecting preventive health behavior of cancer. Those variables explained 12.5% of cancer preventive behavior.
CONCLUSION
In order to develop a cancer prevention education program for middle-aged men, accurate knowledge and improving attitude should be considered. Furthermore, it is necessary to do further study with a larger random sample according to lifespan.