Health Literacy, Mammogram Awareness and Screening Among Tertiary Hospital Women Patients

Abstract

In spite of high mortality rates and prevalence, breast cancer awareness and screening is low among Turkish women. This study aimed to determine level of health literacy, mammogram awareness, and screening among tertiary hospital women patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 519 patients aged between 40 and 69. A questionnaire was applied to women patients including demographic characteristics, health behaviors, mammogram awareness and screening, and health literacy tool. Mammogram awareness and screening were questioned according to the Turkish Breast Cancer Screening Standard. To assess health literacy level, the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine was used. Over half of the women were aware of the mammogram age and 23.1 % had a mammogram within 2 years. Limited health literacy was high among patients, and it was significantly associated with lower mammogram awareness (OR 6.53; 95% CL 1.46-9.13) and screening (OR 1.12; 95% CL 0.45-2.80). Health literacy can be an advantageous opportunity on focal point of national cancer screening. Breast cancer education program and public health campaigns should be arranged according to women health literacy level.

The accuracy of breast cancer risk self-assessment does not correlate with knowledge about breast cancer and knowledge and attitudes towards primary chemoprevention

“…With this study, we have demonstrated that Croatian women with average BC risk are not prone to taking over-the-counter drugs, and that they are significantly more concerned about the potential systemic and local side effects of the medication. Since these women have generally accurately assessed their BC risk, we hypothesize that they had a high level of health awareness, which is consistent with the literature data ( Yilmazel, 2018 ).…”

Distribution of cervical and breast cancer risk factors in women and their screening behaviours

“…Some studies indicated similar results (Maral, Budakoğlu, Özdemir, & Bumin, 2009;Yılmazel, 2016) while some others found no significant relationships between women's education level and having mammography done (Dişcigil, Şensoy, Tekin, & Soylemez, 2007;Seçginli & Nahçıvan, 2006). On the other hand, a study result showed that the knowledge of cervical cancer and the uptake of Pap smear screening are abysmally low among the women (Okunowo et al, 2018).…”

Health Literacy of Students Who Applied to Medical and Nursing Faculty in Dokuz Eylul University

“…15 Yine üçüncü basamak bir hastanede, 40-69 yaş arası kadınlar ile yapılan bir çalışmada, katılımcıların SOY düzeyi REALM (Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Tıpta erişkin okuryazarlığının hızlı değerlendirilmesi) ölçeği ile değerlendirilerek, %44,7'si yetersiz, %49,3'ü kısıtlı SOY düzeyinde bulunmuştur. 16 Özdemir ve ark. 'larının da, yine üçüncü basamak bir sağlık kuruluşunda, 456 erişkin hasta (yaş ortalaması 36,2±12,6) üzerinde yaptıkları çalışmada benzer sonuçlara ulaşmışlardır.…”