Ayesha Iqbal1,2, Saira Azhar3, Nihal A Ibrahim4, Zelal J Kharaba5, Mohammad M Iqbal6, Shujaat A Khan1, Muhammad Arfat Yameen1, Ghulam Murtaza7. 1. Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan. 2. Division of Pharmacy Practice and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. 3. College of Pharmacy, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan. 4. Department of Clinical Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates. 5. Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 6. Ayub Medical Institute, Abbottabad, Pakistan. 7. Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore, Pakistan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Thyroid Cancer is one of the rarest cancers but its prevalence has been increasing worldwide for the last couple of decades. METHODS: The data collection tool was designed to assess knowledge, awareness, perception, and attitude towards preventive practices of thyroid cancer in Pakistani university students. The data were collected over a duration of six months and a total number of 3722 students participated. RESULTS: The knowledge of risk factors of thyroid cancer was an important parameter of this study. The students who knew all the early signs of thyroid cancer were 28.7%. In this study, the independent variables such as age, gender, demographic location, and financial status were found to be highly significant with knowledge, attitude towards warning signs of cancer, and the perception of students about developing thyroid cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The participants were found to have poor knowledge about early signs of thyroid cancer. The study participants perception, behavior, and attitude towards preventive practices of thyroid cancer were found inadequate and appropriate measures on a National level should be taken to enhance the knowledge about preventive practices of thyroid cancer. Increasing knowledge and awareness shall help decrease the overall morbidity and mortality linked with thyroid carcinomas and thyroid diseases.
OBJECTIVES:Thyroid Cancer is one of the rarest cancers but its prevalence has been increasing worldwide for the last couple of decades. METHODS: The data collection tool was designed to assess knowledge, awareness, perception, and attitude towards preventive practices of thyroid cancer in Pakistani university students. The data were collected over a duration of six months and a total number of 3722 students participated. RESULTS: The knowledge of risk factors of thyroid cancer was an important parameter of this study. The students who knew all the early signs of thyroid cancer were 28.7%. In this study, the independent variables such as age, gender, demographic location, and financial status were found to be highly significant with knowledge, attitude towards warning signs of cancer, and the perception of students about developing thyroid cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The participants were found to have poor knowledge about early signs of thyroid cancer. The study participants perception, behavior, and attitude towards preventive practices of thyroid cancer were found inadequate and appropriate measures on a National level should be taken to enhance the knowledge about preventive practices of thyroid cancer. Increasing knowledge and awareness shall help decrease the overall morbidity and mortality linked with thyroid carcinomas and thyroid diseases.
Entities:
Keywords:
Awareness; Pearson chi-square; diagnosis; risk factors; thyroid cancer