[Public knowledge and attitude towards colorectal cancer]

The public's knowledge and attitude concerning cancer were studied in 1,422 subjects aged 16 to 65 who attended the Center of Preventive Medicine in Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy during the first months of 1988. There was an obvious lack of knowledge about predisposing factors and early symptoms of colorectal cancer with important differences between age groups and socio-educational levels. Only 40% of the population knew at least one risk factor for this cancer (food) or an early symptom (generally bleeding), one out of three subjects was able to quote a screening method (fecal occult blood test, radiology, endoscopy). The public's knowledge about early detection of colorectal cancer must be improved. Each practitioner should fell concerned and involve himself in health education in order to improve the prevention of this cancer, by modifying the public's attitude toward risk factors and early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.