Awareness of Lung Cancer and Associated Factors among Public Health Students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Afghanistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, imposing a significant burden on low- and middle-income countries, including Afghanistan. Contributing factors include aging populations, tobacco use, and other high-risk behaviors. We aimed to assess lung cancer awareness and associated factors among public health students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among ۱۶۷ students between Oct and Dec ۲۰۲۴ using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics and awareness levels, and chi-square tests assessed associations between awareness and demographic variables, with a significance threshold of P<۰.۰۵.Results: Out of ۱۶۷ distributed questionnaires, ۱۶۴ were completed (response rate ۹۸.۲%). Most participants (۶۲.۲%) were aged ۲۱-۲۴ yr. A majority (۸۰.۵%) demonstrated good awareness of lung cancer risk factors, with ۹۸.۲% identifying smoking and ۷۶.۲% identifying passive smoking as key risks. Awareness of occupational exposures (۶۳.۴%) and dietary risks (۶۸.۹%) was moderate. No statistically significant associations were observed between awareness and demographic variables such as age (P=۰.۴۳۹), year of study (P=۰.۴۱۵), or economic status (P=۰.۹۱).Conclusion: While students exhibited high awareness of smoking-related risks, gaps remained in recognizing less-discussed risk factors and symptoms. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to address knowledge gaps and promote preventive health behaviors among students.Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, imposing a significant burden on low- and middle-income countries, including Afghanistan. Contributing factors include aging populations, tobacco use, and other high-risk behaviors. We aimed to assess lung cancer awareness and associated factors among public health students at Kabul University of Medical Sciences. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among ۱۶۷ students between Oct and Dec ۲۰۲۴ using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics and awareness levels, and chi-square tests assessed associations between awareness and demographic variables, with a significance threshold of P<۰.۰۵. Results: Out of ۱۶۷ distributed questionnaires, ۱۶۴ were completed (response rate ۹۸.۲%). Most participants (۶۲.۲%) were aged ۲۱-۲۴ yr. A majority (۸۰.۵%) demonstrated good awareness of lung cancer risk factors, with ۹۸.۲% identifying smoking and ۷۶.۲% identifying passive smoking as key risks. Awareness of occupational exposures (۶۳.۴%) and dietary risks (۶۸.۹%) was moderate. No statistically significant associations were observed between awareness and demographic variables such as age (P=۰.۴۳۹), year of study (P=۰.۴۱۵), or economic status (P=۰.۹۱). Conclusion: While students exhibited high awareness of smoking-related risks, gaps remained in recognizing less-discussed risk factors and symptoms. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to address knowledge gaps and promote preventive health behaviors among students.

کلیدواژه ها:

Lung cancer awareness ، Risk factors ، Afghanistan ، Medical students