The Effect of Training and Monitoring at Home on the Knowledge Level and Practices of Married Women Regarding Breast and Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed as a semi-experimental study to determine the effects of training and monitoring at home on the knowledge level and practices of married women regarding breast and cervical cancer. Materials and Methods:The research sample consisted of 153 women. Data was collected by the "Introductory Questionnaire" and "Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer symptoms, prevention, early diagnosis information and application form." After the data was collected, women received training. After training, to monitor changes, phone calls were made along with home visits for 6 months. After the end of the visits, forms were re-administered. For statistical analysis, the Shapiro-Wilk test, Friedman analysis, and Student-Newman-Keuls test were performed.Results: According to the findings, women increased their score from the information form after planned monitoring at home, and the difference between the first and last measurement points was statistically significant (p<0.001). Similarly, it was found that women increased their score from the information form about cervical cancer, and the difference between the first and last measurement points was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion:At the end of the study, 84% of women were found to begin the application of breast self-examination (BSE). As a result, women's knowledge concerning breast and cervical cancer has changed in a positive manner with planned monitoring and training.Keywords: Breast cancer, cervical cancer, monitoring at home, training IntroductionThe increase in the incidence of cancer is a major public health problem for both the world and Turkey. If the rate of increase in cancer remains constant, 27 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed each year in 2030, each year 17 million people will die due to cancer, and the number of people living with cancer will increase up to 75 million (1-3). According to International Cancer Agency (GLOBOCAN) data, a total of 14.1 million new cancer cases and 8.2 million deaths have occurred throughout the world due to cancer. According to the data from the World Cancer Report and Ministry of Health, cancer related deaths are the second leading cause of mortality in Turkey (21.32%) (4).Breast cancer in women continues to be an international problem affecting both Turkey and countries from all economic levels. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer after breast cancer in the world, and ranks 9th in Turkey Prolongation of life expectancy in the future, stress, the increase in obesity prevalence, delayed age at first birth, and reduced fertility are expected to increase breast cancer incidence even further (6-12).Knowledge of women on breast and cervical cancer is very important in the early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. One of the factors affecting the implementation of women's cancer early detection methods is the lack of knowledge about cancer (13-18). The application rate of BSE in our country is very low. Only 10% of women declare to perform regular, monthly brea...

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

“…The participants were asked questions that involved breast self-examination, Pap smear test, clinical breast examination, diet, smoking and age at first labour. The findings are presented in detail in the tables in the findings section (Göl & Erkin, 2016;İz & Tümer, 2016;Kanbur & Çapık, 2011;Kolutek & Avci, 2015;Kurt, Canbulat, & Savaşer, 2013;Soylar & Genç, 2016).…”

“…Increasing prevalence of cancer every day is an important public health problem both in Turkey and in the world. If the cancer increase rate continues this way by the year 2030, every year 27 million new cancer diagnosis will be made, every year 17 million people will lose their lives due to cancer, and the number of people living with cancer will reach up to 75 million (Güner & Taşkıran, ; Kolutek & Avci, ; Soylar & Genç, ). International Agency for Research on Cancer (GLOBOCAN) data show that 14.1 cancer cases have developed worldwide, and there have been 8.2 million cancer‐related deaths (Carter, ).…”

Evaluating the effect of an educational program on increasing cervical cancer screening behavior among women in Fasa, Iran

“…Nonetheless, considering the long pre-invasion period, accessibility of appropriate screening programs, and effective treatment of the primary lesions, cervical cancer is known as a preventable cancer [ 3 ]. By the utilization of Pap smear test as a screening technique, the prevalence of cervical cancer has reduced by 79% up to now [ 4 ]. Therefore, performance of this test should be considered as a health policy for those sexually active women [ 5 ].…”

The relationship of socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge of breast cancer on stage of behavioral adoption of breast self-examination

“…Mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE) and breast self-examination (BSE) are effective methods for early breast cancer detection [7] . As mammography is costly and may not be within the access of those with lower socioeconomic status [1] , BSE is useful as a screening tool more so in less developed countries in detecting the presence of abnormalities in the breast [8] as it creates an opportunity for women to detect any changes in the breasts.…”