Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent cancer globally, including in Vietnam where its
incidence is rapidly increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of signs,
symptoms, and risk factors of colorectal cancer among outpatients at Hoa Hao Medic Company
Limited, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and a total of 441 people
who visited Hoa Hao Medic Company Limited for a general health check-up and voluntarily agreed
to participate in this study were recruited through the convenience sampling method. Data were
collected through face-to-face structured interviews using the Bowel CAM questionnaire. According
to the results, the highest percentage of well-recalled warning signs were “change in bowel habit”
(36.7%) followed by abdominal pain (35.4%). Other warning signs such as weight loss and rectal
bleeding were reported by 19.0% and 18.1% of participants, respectively. Over 42% of participants
stated that they were unaware of any signs or symptoms. The most commonly identified risk factors
for CRC were pollution (66.9%), genetics (50.6%), and an unhealthy/poor diet (53.7%) for unprompted
questions. The overall awareness score of participants was 3.46/9 (SD _ 2.91) for signs and symptoms
of CRC and 5.90/10 (SD _ 1.62) for risk factors. Univariate linear regression identified education
level and occupation as predictors of higher CRC awareness. In conclusion, this study highlights that
overall awareness of CRC is low among outpatients at Hoa Hao Medic Company Limited. Strategies
to increase awareness, knowledge, and education programs are necessary to promote early detection
of CRC and reduce its burden in Vietnam.
