UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING CANCER PREVENTION

Abstract

An effective population health approach to cancer prevention for young adults requires an informed understanding of cancer-relevant factors for this distinct population. Such factors include the social context, modifiable health behaviours and intrapersonal factors which influence those behaviours. It is also necessary to understand how this population seeks out and uses health information. This descriptive study was carried out through an online questionnaire delivered to a sample of 484 university students in Nova Scotia aged 17 to 29. The study revealed that most students reported good health behaviours, students new to Nova Scotia reported better health behaviours, and while health was a priority, cancer was not. Students also described how intrapersonal factors and their broader social context influenced health behaviours. The results will advance a contemporary depiction of young adult health essential for developing tailored cancer prevention and health promotion strategies.