Knowledge of Cancer Risk Factors and Prevention among Nursing Students in Odisha, India

Abstract

Background: Cancer remains a major global public-health challenge, and prevention depends partly on recognition of modifiable risk factors, warning signs, and appropriate screening pathways. Nursing students are future frontline professionals who may influence patient education and preventive health behaviour. Objective: To assess knowledge of cancer risk factors and prevention among nursing students at St. Thomas College of Nursing, Kuruda, Balasore, Odisha, India. Methods: A single-centre descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 50 nursing students selected by convenience sampling from 13 to 16 October 2025. Baseline characteristics were recorded and knowledge was assessed using a 12-item structured questionnaire. Scores of 0-4, 5-8, and 9-12 were categorised as indicating poor, average, and good knowledge, respectively. The instrument was reviewed by four nursing experts; the reported content validity index was 0.81 and Cronbach's alpha was 0.761. Data were summarised using frequencies and percentages, with 95% confidence intervals for the principal knowledge categories. Results: Thirty students (60.0%; 95% CI 46.2%-72.4%) had good knowledge, 17 (34.0%; 95% CI 22.4%-47.8%) had average knowledge, and three (6.0%; 95% CI 2.1%-16.2%) had poor knowledge. Only five students (10%) had previously attended a cancer-awareness workshop. Conclusion: Most participants were classified as having good knowledge, but the precision of the estimate was limited by the small, single-centre convenience sample. The low reported exposure to cancer-awareness workshops supports evaluation of structured educational reinforcement within nursing training.