Awareness of Lung Cancer and Associated Factors among Public Health Students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Afghanistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, imposing a significant burden on low- and middle-income countries, including Afghanistan. Contributing factors include aging populations, tobacco use, and other high-risk behaviors. We aimed to assess lung cancer awareness and associated factors among public health students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 167 students between Oct and Dec 2024 using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics and awareness levels, and chi-square tests assessed associations between awareness and demographic variables, with a significance threshold of P<0.05.
Results: Out of 167 distributed questionnaires, 164 were completed (response rate 98.2%). Most participants (62.2%) were aged 21-24 yr. A majority (80.5%) demonstrated good awareness of lung cancer risk factors, with 98.2% identifying smoking and 76.2% identifying passive smoking as key risks. Awareness of occupational exposures (63.4%) and dietary risks (68.9%) was moderate. No statistically significant associations were observed between awareness and demographic variables such as age (P=0.439), year of study (P=0.415), or economic status (P=0.91).
Conclusion: While students exhibited high awareness of smoking-related risks, gaps remained in recognizing less-discussed risk factors and symptoms. These findings…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
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