Determination of attitudes and behaviors towards early diagnosis of cervical cancer of first-degree relatives of women who receive treatment of cervical cancer

Abstract

This study aims to determine the risk factors, behaviors, participation to screening programs, and attitudes towards early diagnosis of cervical cancer of first-degree relatives of women who receive treatment of cervical cancer.The present study is a descriptive type research. The study was conducted between February and May 2016 in the Oncology and Chemotherapy unit of a university hospital. The study was carried out with 283 first-degree relatives of the patients who receive treatment of cervical cancer in the related unit, and agreed to participate in the study. The "Descriptive Characteristics Form", and the "The Scale of Attitudes towards Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer" was used for data collection. 49.1% of the women was between the ages of 31-40, 41.3% of first marriage age was 18 years old or younger, 52.2% of first delivery age was 20 years old or younger, 52.2% and above had 3 or more deliveries. 52.7% had a genital infection, 45.9% had vaginal discharge with abundant and malodor, 24.4% had abnormal vaginal bleeding, and 42% had bleeding after sexual intercourse. And, 51.6% was smokers, 32.9% was taking oral contraceptives for 5 years and above, 98.2% hadn't had the HPV vaccine and 71.4% hadn't had a PAP smear test. The mean score of the Scale was 103.27±10.71.Women generally have a high level of positive attitudes but the behaviors is insufficient toward early diagnosis of cervical cancer, the majority of women have cervical cancer risk factors and women with risk factors have a low level of positive attitudes toward early diagnosis of cervical cancer.
 
Keywords: Attitudes; behaviors; cervical cancer; early diagnosis; first-degree relatives; Turkey.