Lifestyle Habits and Adherence to Cancer Screening Programs Among Italian Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Education

Background:

• Lifestyle behaviors significantly impact cancer risk and screening adherence.
• Teachers represent a key demographic for public health interventions.
• Understanding teachers' health habits is vital for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess lifestyle habits, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity, among Italian teachers.
• To evaluate teachers' knowledge and behaviors concerning cancer screening.
• To identify factors associated with healthy lifestyles and screening uptake in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among randomly selected teachers in the Campania region, Italy.
• Data collection focused on lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, diet, physical activity) and cancer screening history (mammography, Pap test, fecal occult blood test).
• Statistical analyses were performed to identify associations between demographic/professional characteristics and health behaviors/screening.

Main Results:

• A significant portion of teachers reported unhealthy behaviors: 17% current smokers, 72.1% alcohol consumers, and only 20.9% with moderate/high physical activity.
• Screening uptake was suboptimal: 42.3% for mammography, 37.5% for Pap test, and 37.5% for fecal occult blood test.
• Factors like gender, marital status, education level, and discussions about alcohol influenced lifestyle choices, while demographic and teaching discipline factors affected physical activity levels.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a concerning prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and low adherence to cancer screening programs among Italian teachers.
• There is a clear need for targeted health education and accessible screening campaigns to improve preventive health strategies within the teaching community.
• Interventions should address specific barriers and facilitators identified in the study to promote healthier lifestyles and cancer prevention among educators.