Healthy lifestyle behaviours and attitudes of relatives of patients with colorectal cancer towards protection from colorectal cancer

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted in order to determine healthy lifestyle behaviours and attitudes of first degree relatives ofpatients with colorectal cancer (CRC) towards protection from CRC.Material and Method: The data were collected by the researcher using Colorectal Cancer Screening Attitude Beliefs Scale(CCSAB), and Health Promotion Life-Style Profile II (HPLP).Results: It was found that more than half (56.3%) of the patient relatives did not have knowledge about CRC and 85.2%did not participate early diagnosis/screening programs of CRC. It was found that CCSAB total mean score of the patientrelatives was 53.06±8.91 and HPLP’ total mean score was 132.46±20.96. Both HPLP’ mean score and CCSAB’ mean scorewas higher in patient’ relatives who had knowledge about CRC and participated in early diagnosis/screening programs ofCRC and the difference was determined to be highly significant. A positive, weak, and statistically significant correlationwas found between CCSAB and HPLP scale of patient relatives in the study.Conclusion: The present study showed that the rate of patient relatives to participate in CRC screening participationrates was low, healthy lifestyle behaviours and attitudes towards protection from CRC were moderate. Nurses shouldraise awareness through protection from cancer and early diagnosis/screening programs especially for cancer patients’relatives in all individuals is at risk primarily first degree relatives of patients with protection from and be guiding toacquire healthy lifestyle behaviours.