Abstract:

Purpose: This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating health beliefs regarding women’s attitudes and behaviors regarding cervical cancer and screening. Tools and Methods: This prospective study included 360 women applying to the Düzce University Health Application and Research Center Family Medicine Clinic between January and March 2019 and meeting the working criteria. In the collection of data, the 'Rahim Oral Cancer and Pap Smoar Test Health Faith Model Scale' and 'Patient Information Form' were used. Results: The average age of the participants in the study is 42,54 ± 10,13 (min:20-max:65) 37.2% of participants (n=134) said they didn’t do the internal Pap smear test, and 35.1% (n=47) said they didn’t do the test because they didn’t need it and they didn’t make the test because they didn’t have any complaints. 23.3 percent of participants (n=84) were diagnosed with cervical cancer in their family/circumstances, and those who were not diagnosed with cervical cancer in their family/circumstances were more likely to receive Pap smear (p=0,017). The participants found not significant differences according to the reasons why they did the Pap smear test (p=0,963), the sensitivity of the Moth oral cancer (p=0,897) and the motivation for the health of the Moth oral cancer (p=0,370) while the Pap smear benefit/motivation and the Pap smear obstacles were statistically significant differences according to the reasons why they did the Pap smear test (both p<0,001). The result: As the level of knowledge about cervical cancer and screening of the participants in the study increased, they also showed an increase in their orientation towards positive health behaviors. Therefore, training activities to increase the use of screening tests should be organized.

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