Prevalence and correlates of awareness about the role of physical activity in colon cancer prevention among Japanese adults

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined the prevalence and correlates of awareness about the role physical activity plays in colon cancer prevention among Japanese adults.
Methods: Data were analyzed for 1,964 Japanese adults (aged 44.7 years) who responded to an internet-based cross-sectional survey. The survey was used to assess awareness of the role of physical activity in colon cancer prevention, knowledge of colon cancer, exposure to information about physical activity and cancer, a self-reported physical activity and sociodemographic variables (gender, age, marital status, education level, employment status, household income, and colon cancer history). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used.
Results: Overall, 47.5% of respondents were aware of the preventive role of physical activity on colon cancer. Respondents aged 60-69 (AOR, 95%CI: 0.59, 0.45-0.79) were significantly less likely to be aware than respondents aged 20-29 years, while those with college graduates or higher (1.32, 1.05-1.66) were more likely to be aware than those who had graduate junior high or high school. Moreover, exposure to information about cancer and physical activity (2.07, 1.71-2.51), and meeting physical activity recommendations (1.43, 1.12-1.84) were positively associated with the awareness.
Conclusions: Awareness of the role of physical activity in colon cancer prevention was not sufficient. The finding suggests that strategies are needed for promoting awareness of the effect of physical activity in colon cancer prevention among Japanese adults, especially in consideration of age and education level.