Karolina Koczur

Most cases of colorectal cancer are related to lifestyle, including eating habits. The aim of the study was to assess the level of knowledge of the inhabitants of the Małopolskie Voivodeship regarding specific food ingredients and nutritional behaviors that are important in the development of colorectal cancer depending on selected socio-demographic factors, as well as the assessment of the nutritional status of the respondents.

The study was conducted among 144 adults, residents of Krakow and the village of Gródek nad Dunajcem. The analyzes included responses from 126 people (89 women and 36 men). The diagnostic survey method was used, while the research tool was the original questionnaire. The first part of the survey concerned selected nutritional behaviors of the studied group, while the second part assessed the knowledge of nutritional risk factors for colorectal cancer. In addition, data on lifestyle, socio-economic data and participation in screening tests for the diagnosis of the lower gastrointestinal tract in the year preceding the study were collected.

In the adopted assessment scale, the level of knowledge of the respondents differed significantly, taking into account the place of residence (p = 0.0363), where 41% of Krakow’s residents found it very good, while 43.8% of rural residents found it insufficient. People living in the city have almost three times greater chance of getting a higher level of knowledge than people living in the countryside. Also, the knowledge of the respondents who declared higher consumption of portions of fruit and vegetables was 2–3 times higher than those who consumed these products less frequently.

The level of knowledge on nutritional behaviors related to the development of colorectal cancer is insufficient among rural residents. People who demonstrate favorable nutritional behavior have greater knowledge about modifiable cancer risk factors.