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Colorectal Awareness in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review of Cross-Sectional Studies

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Saudi Arabia with estimated prevalence rates for males and females at 9.9% and 6.4%, respectively. It is also the most common cancer in males and the third most common cancer in females in the kingdom. In general, the evidence regarding knowledge and awareness of colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia is conflicting among different studies. Accordingly, we conducted a systematic review that aims to formulate strong evidence regarding the awareness and knowledge of colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia. A systematic search was conducted through several databases to find the relevant articles. A total of 19 cross-sectional investigations were found fit in our inclusion criteria and were included in the final data. The sample size was hugely variable among these studies, ranging between 127 and 5,720, with a total of 18,525 included participants. Most studies recruited participants from the general population, however, some studies recruited school teachers, medical and university students as well as healthcare workers. Results show that the prevalence of poor awareness levels and inadequate knowledge of colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia is high. Although the levels of knowledge among healthcare workers was high, most of them did not follow advisable screening protocols for colorectal cancer. Nationwide programs should be inaugurated to increase the level of awareness and knowledge among the Saudi population and enhance the prognosis and outcomes of colorectal cancer across the Kingdom.