Demographic and social chosen health behaviours among people over 55 years of age in the field of chronic disease prevention on the example of colorectal cancer

Aim
The aim of the study was to present selected health behaviours of people over 55 in the prevention of colorectal cancer and to determine the relationships between these behaviours and demographic and social factors.

Material and methods
The study was conducted in January 2018 among 130 students of the University of the Third Age in Sanok. The diagnostic survey method has been used. The research tools were: the author’s questionnaire and Juczyński’s Inventory of Health Behaviours. The Chi2 test has been used in the statistical analysis. A statistically significant relationship was assumed to be p <0,05.

Results
The respondents were in the age range 55-80 years. In the study group, women, city dwellers and people with secondary education clearly dominated. 39.2% of respondents have so far screened for colorectal cancer. Only every fifth senior tried to devote time to physical activity every day. Respondents with higher education and working intellectually in the past, much more often performed colorectal cancer screening and less often used stimulants than respondents working physically and with vocational or secondary education.

Conclusions
Most respondents did not present behaviours conducive to the prevention of colorectal cancer. A relationship between health behaviours and education, the nature of previous work and the material situation of seniors has been demonstrated. Health education should be carried out with the aim of increasing the level of knowledge and awareness among elderly people in the prevention of chronic diseases with a particular focus on colorectal cancer.