Awareness of breast and cervical cancer risk factors and screening behaviours among nurses in rural region of Turkey

Abstract

Breast and cervical cancer are the most common causes of cancer mortality among women worldwide, but actually they are largely preventable diseases. There is limited data on breast and cervical cancer knowledge, screening practices and attitudes of nurses in Turkey. A self-administered questionnaire was used to investigate the knowledge and attitude of nurses on risk factors of the breast and cervical cancer as well as screening programmes such as breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination, mammography (MMG) and papanicolaou (pap) smear test. In total, 125 out of 160 nurses participated in the study (overall response rate was 80.6%). The risk factors and symptoms of breast cancer was generally well known, except for early menarche (23.2%) and late menopause (28.8%). For cervical cancer, the correct risk factors mostly indicated by the nurses were early age at first sexual intercourse (56%), smoking (76%), multiple sexual partners (71.2%). As for screening methods, it was believed that BSE was a beneficial method to identify the early breast changes (84.8%) and MMG was able to detect the cancer without a palpable mass (57.6%). Little was known about the fact that women should begin cervical cancer screening approximately 3 years after the onset of sexual intercourse (23.2%) and if repeated pap smear test were normal, it could be done every 2-3 years. Most of the nurses considered that MMG decreases the mortality in breast cancer (65.6%) and also believed that pap smear test decreases the mortality in cervical cancer (75.2%). Despite high level of knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, symptoms and screening methods, inadequate knowledge of cervical cancer screening method were found among nurses.

Pap Smear Screening Results for Turkish Pregnant Women

“…In developed countries, nurses trained on the subject of cancer early diagnosis programmes have taken on an essential role in public health screening, and working in collaboration with health and social care personnel in training programmes (Tessaro and Herman, 2000;Ertem, 2008;Yaren et al, 2008). Nurses have responsibilities such as: providing the necessary information about early diagnosis and prevention of cervical cancer in women; encouraging high-risk families to undergo screening; conducting smear tests; and gathering and assessing data obtained from screening.…”

Awareness of Cervical Cancer Risk Factors, Screening Practices and Attitudes among Nurses in a Primary Health Care Setting of Morocco: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Globally, nurses in this study had adequate knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors, other studies in Uganda, Turkey, Nigeria and Tanzania didn't shown the some findings [7][8][9][10]. This can be explained by the fact that our survey was conducted in the "training area" where most nurses have already taken training about cervical cancer in order to implement the early detection program.…”

Evaluation of the Impact of Nurses’ Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors on Utilization from Breast Cancer Early Diagnosis Methods

“…Several studies regarding knowledge and practices of nurses on breast cancer prevention from Turkey (11)(12)(13)(17)(18)(19) and abroad (10,(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27) have showed significant differences in knowledge and application of BSE, CBE and mammography among nurses. These differences are thought to originate from research methodology, nurses' socio -demographic (age, education level, marital status, etc.)…”

“…There are several studies regarding the knowledge and practices of nurses on breast cancer prevention, and utilization of early diagnostic methods both from our country and abroad (10)(11)(12)(13)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28). However, a comprehensive study on the effect of nurses' healthy lifestyle behaviors on the utilization of breast cancer early diagnosis methods was not found.…”