Table 3 Knowledge and attitudes regarding areca nut among university students.
Items | Frequency (%) |
|---|---|
I think chewing areca nut has the following benefits. | |
Antibacterial and deworming effect | 127 (9.0%) |
Relieve mental stress and refresh | 433 (30.6%) |
Soothe qi and stomach, relieve pain and eliminate accumulation | 273 (19.3%) |
Prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases | 192 (13.5%) |
Others | 36 (2.5%) |
No benefit | 816 (57.6%) |
I know that the World Health Organization classifies areca nut as a Group I carcinogen. | |
Yes | 1053 (74.3%) |
No | 216 (15.2%) |
Not sure | 148 (10.4%) |
I think areca nuts can cause cancer in part | |
Betel leaf | 632 (44.6%) |
Part of tobacco | 718 (50.7%) |
Areca nut | 837 (59.1%) |
Part of lime | 537 (37.9%) |
Others | 20 (1.4%) |
I don’t know | 330 (23.3%) |
I know that chewing areca nut is associated with oral cancer | |
Yes | 1195 (84.3%) |
No | 150 (10.6%) |
Not sure | 72 (5.1%) |
I know that oral cancer can be prevented | |
Yes | 1070 (75.5%) |
No | 178 (12.6%) |
Not sure | 169 (11.9%) |
I think oral cancer can be cured. | |
Totally not agreed | 210 (14.8%) |
Not quite agreed | 569 (40.2%) |
Generally agreed | 411 (29.0%) |
Relatively agreed | 178 (12.6%) |
Completely agreed | 49 (3.5%) |
What I think is addictive about areca nut and its products. | |
The areca nut itself | 738 (52.1%) |
Additive components | 420 (29.6%) |
Not addicted | 102 (7.2%) |
I don’t know | 157 (11.1%) |
I think chewing areca nut is an unhealthy behavior. | |
Totally not agreed | 83 (5.9%) |
Not quite agreed | 150 (10.6%) |
Generally agreed | 170 (12.0%) |
Relatively agreed | 388 (27.4%) |
Completely agreed | 626 (44.2%) |
I think eating areca nut can produce the following oral hazards. | |
Oral mucosal ulcers | 980 (69.2%) |
Impaired taste function | 901 (63.6%) |
You can’t open your mouth | 826 (58.3%) |
Canceration of the oral mucosa | 1011 (71.3%) |
Severe tooth wear | 923 (65.1%) |
I don’t know | 97 (6.8%) |
No harm | 13 (0.9%) |
I got my knowledge of areca nut from the following ways. | |
Friends | 544 (38.4%) |
Newspapers or magazines | 641 (45.2%) |
Television and the Internet | 1044 (73.7%) |
Books or school programs | 619 (43.7%) |
Brochures or posters | 400 (28.2%) |
Others | 74 (5.2%) |
I would advocate to the people around me not to chew areca nut or less | |
Totally not agreed | 86 (6.1%) |
Not quite agreed | 142 (10.0%) |
Generally agreed | 346 (24.4%) |
Relatively agreed | 412 (29.1%) |
Completely agreed | 431 (30.4%) |
When someone has oral cancer, I think he/she should seek medical treatment. | |
Totally not agreed | 62 (4.4%) |
Not quite agreed | 128 (9.0%) |
Generally agreed | 156 (11.0%) |
Relatively agreed | 336 (23.7%) |
Completely agreed | 735 (51.9%) |
I think teenagers should be banned from chewing areca nut. | |
Totally not agreed | 44 (3.1%) |
Not quite agreed | 122 (8.6%) |
Generally agreed | 210 (14.8%) |
Relatively agreed | 328 (23.1%) |
Completely agreed | 713 (50.3%) |
I think areca nut advertisements should be banned or restricted in the major media. | |
Totally not agreed | 52 (3.7%) |
Not quite agreed | 141 (10.0%) |
Generally agreed | 272 (19.2%) |
Relatively agreed | 343 (24.2%) |
Completely agreed | 609 (43.0%) |
I think all kinds of shops or supermarkets that sell areca nut should be regulated. | |
Totally not agreed | 62 (4.4%) |
Not quite agreed | 114 (8.0%) |
Generally agreed | 272 (19.2%) |
Relatively agreed | 368 (26.0%) |
Completely agreed | 601 (42.4%) |
