Health Behaviors of Cancer Survivors: The Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV, 2007–09)

Objective: This study aimed to describe the health behaviors of cancer survivors in the Republic of Korea and to compare them with the health behaviors of two control groups: (i) individuals with no history of cancer but with other chronic diseases and (ii) individuals with no history of cancer or other chronic diseases. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 17 311 adults at least 19 years of age who participated in the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–09). Smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity and cancer screening behaviors of cancer survivors were assessed and compared with those of the two control groups. x 2 tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the likelihood and predictors of health behaviors. Results: The proportion of cancer survivors who were current smokers, heavy drinkers and engaged in physical activity were 9.6, 6.6 and 26.0%, respectively. Cancer screening rates reported among survivors were 44.2, 17.0, 49.8 and 47.7% for stomach, colorectal, breast and cervical cancers, respectively. Cancer survivors showed lower smoking and alcohol drinking rates compared with both control groups after adjusting for sex, age, marital status, education, household income and health insurance. Cancer survivors also showed stomach, breast and cervical cancer screening rates that differed from both control groups. However, in multiple analyses, these differences were not significant. Conclusions: Cancer survivors are more likely to adopt good health behaviors than individuals without a history of cancer. Further study is needed to determine the factors that lead to continued unhealthy behaviors after cancer diagnosis.