E-poster Presentation 2014 World Cancer Congress

Self-reported Prevalence on Cancer-related Risky Behaviors of Junior High School Students in Taiwan (#842)

Kun-Huei Yeh 1 2 3 , Yi-Yuan Liu 4 , Anlin Peng 1 5 , Ruey-Kuen Hsieh 6 7
  1. Taiwan Cancer Total Care Information Society , Taipei, Taiwan
  2. Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
  3. Graduate Institute of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
  4. Marketing and Distribution, Oriental Institute of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
  5. Oncology, TTY Biopharm Company Limited, Taipei, Taiwan
  6. Cancer Center, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taiwan
  7. Taiwan Total Cancer Care Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan

Background and Context: We performed an on-site cancer prevention educational program focusing on prevention of all cancer types and on emphasis of oral cancer by oncologists.

Aim: To have a better understanding for cancer risky behaviors in Taiwan, we performed a questionnaire survey for junior high school students after a cancer prevention education program.

Strategy/Tactics: We focused on 3 cancer-related risky behaviors CBA [cigarette smoking (C), betel-nut chewing (B),alcohol drinking (A)].

Programme/Policy Process: In terms of the frequency of behavior, the ever-experience of behavior, the starting time of risky behavior, the sources of cigarette/betel-nut/alcohol, the existence of behavior by their parents and senior family members.

Outcomes/What was learned: From JAN to DEC in 2013, 6219junior high school students received our on-site cancer prevention educational program whose questionnaires are valid for analysis. Among them, 5207 and 1012 questionnaires are from western and eastern towns, respectively. Questionnaires from 7th, 8th, 9th grade of junior high school students represent 51%, 33%, and 16%, respectively. The self-reported percentage of “frequent” (with daily consumption) C, B, and A is 1.5%, 0.3%, and 0.3%, respectively. The frequency of “ever-experience” of C is significantly higher in eastern (10%) than western (7.6%) towns (p=0.003, t test), the frequency of ever-experience of B is significantly higher in eastern (8.9%) than western (3.9%) towns (p=0.000), and A is significantly higher in eastern (21.6%) than western (18%) towns (p=0.024). The “starting time” of B is significantly younger by 3 years in eastern towns (p=0.000, t test), the starting time of A is significantly younger by 3 years in western towns (p=0.037). Conclusions: Self-reported survey on cancer risky behaviors revealed “frequent” cigarette smoking (C) is the most prevalent (1.5%) cancer-related risky behavior among CBA. Education on cessation of cancer-related risky behaviors CBA for junior high school students remains the most important endeavor.