Examination knowledge levels of elderly people about colorectal cancer’s risks and early diagnosis and their this cancer’s risks

Objective: the research was conducted in order to examine knowledge levels of elderly people about colorectal cancer’s risks and early diagnosis and their this cancer’s risks. material-method: the descriptive study has been done between february-march 2011 in izmir metropolitan municipality health aging center. the population of the research was consisted 174 elderly people who are members of the center. the sample was consisted of 92 people who come regularly the center and agreed to participate the research. data were collected with face to face interview using 23 item questionnaire developed by the researchers. the data were evaluated number, percentage distribution, t-test, mann whitney-u, one way anova and kruskall wallis test. results: mean age of elderly people was 66,5±7,9 and 54,3% were women. it determined that 18,5% of elderly people were current smoker, 20,7% drank alcohol, 64,1% were obesite, 51,1% didn’t physical exercise regularly, 77,2% weren’t have another colorectal cancer screening test. it was detected that 3,3% of elderly people has polyp in their second degree relatives, 34,8% has weakness, 29,3% has constipation, 16,3% has hemorrhoids in the last three months. knowledge score mean about knowledge levels of elderly people about colorectal cancer’s risks and early diagnosis was 7,73±2,03. it was detected that total knowledge score mean of 16.3% was 5 score and lower, total knowledge score mean of 20,7% was 10 score. it was determined that socio-demographic variables and risk factors determined based on self-report of elderly didn’t impact on the knowledge score mean about colorectal cancer’s risks and early diagnosis (p>0.05). discussion: consequently, ıt was determined that elderly people have risk factors of colorectal cancer, have not desired knowledge level about this disease and not have enough early diagnosis.