Level of Awareness amongst the General Public regarding Usage of Repeatedly Heated Cooking Oil in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Objective: The usage of repeatedly heated cooking oil is a common practice amongst Malaysians. When oil is heated repeatedly, oxidation and hydrolysis occur due to thermal decomposition. Several studies have suggested that consumption of repeatedly heated oil can be detrimental to health. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to assess the level of awareness amongst the general public regarding the usage of repeatedly heated cooking oil in the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the level of awareness based on knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the usage of repeatedly heated cooking oil. The study involved convenience sampling of 500 respondents at various locations in Kuala Lumpur within a one-month period (April 2009). A questionnaire was designed as a tool to collect data from the respondents by face-to-face interview. The data was then statistically analyzed using ANOVA, Student's t test and Pearson's correlation. Results: The results showed that the public awareness in Kuala Lumpur regarding this issue was at a moderate level, with a mean score of 7.77 out of 12 points. The majority of respondents (42%) obtained moderate scores in terms of their level of awareness. Respondents with higher level of education had significantly higher level of awareness regarding this issue compared to those with lower level of education. Respondents with the highest level of income had significantly higher level of awareness than those earning much less, partly due to the higher level of education achieved by the highest income group. There was also a significant relationship between respondents' knowledge with their attitude and practice regarding the usage of repeatedly heated cooking oil. Conclusion: The level of awareness of the general public in Kuala Lumpur regarding the usage of repeatedly heated cooking oil needs to be improved. More publicity and exposure about this little-known health issue is needed in order to increase the general public's level of awareness.