Shared thoughts and practices on some modifiable cancer risk factors

OBJECTIVE: Numerous cancer-causing factors are inversely correlated with health literacy. The current study’s objective was to evaluate the Saudi community’s knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding certain carcinogens. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To perform this descriptive study, a cross-sectional survey was carried out in Hail City, Northern Saudi Arabia, between September 2020 and November 2020. In the city of Hail, about 450 volunteers have expressed interest in taking part in the study. RESULTS: A total of 165 individuals smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol, respectively (67%) and 42 (9%). Negative attitudes toward cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, radiation exposure, genetic predisposition, some viruses, some bacterial infection, some parasites, and fungi were 85/450 (19%), 209/450 (46.4%), 206/450 (45.8%), 322/450 (71.6%), 297/450 (66%), 375/450 (83.3%), 403/450 (89.6%), and 405/450 (90%), in that order. CONCLUSIONS: Some cancer-causing substances are widely used in the Saudi community. Lack of understanding and a negative attitude toward some carcinogens are widespread, necessitating immediate interventions at the community and health affairs levels