Abstract

Purpose: The study was done to identify health behavior for cancer prevention in university students according to characteristics of the university students and other factors affecting health behavior for cancer prevention and to provide data to set up a strategy to reduce the cancer. Methods: Data were collected by questionnaires from 353 university students in G city. To analyze the sample survey data, descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, and multiple regression analysis were performed with SPSS/WIN 15.0. Results: Significant factors that affect health behaviors for cancer prevention in university students were perception of health status, knowledge and attitudes about cancer, and smoking. These variables explained 21% of health behaviors for cancer prevention. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that in order to improve the health behavior for cancer prevention in university students it is important to development health education programs that focus on positive perception of health status. This development could be enhanced with structured and on-going education about cancer.

Keywords

• Attitudes;
• Cancer;
• Health behavior;
• Knowledge