An examination of cancer literacy among Appalachian versus non-Appalachian Kentucky college students

Objective: Examine factors contributing to high rates of Appalachian female cancer incidences and mortalities by examining cancer literacy and associated sociological influences among Appalachian university students. Participants: This study evaluated Appalachian and non-Appalachian undergraduate students in Eastern Kentucky. Methods: A Qualtrics survey was disseminated which categorized questions into three parts: demographic, female focused cancer literacy, and cancer care access. Results: Overall cancer literacy was low (67.45%, 139 respondents); no difference was found in Appalachian standing. Male students had lower scores (p < 0.05), and both cancer-related majors (p < 0.001) and enhanced academic years (p < 0.05) improved cancer literacy. Limited awareness of mobile cancer screening units was found across respondents, along with, decreased access to health services indicated by Appalachian students (p < 0.05). Conclusions: College students represent a population in need of enhanced cancer education. Improving knowledge about accessing healthcare including cancer screenings could reduce Appalachian cancer rates.