Abstract:

Objective: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the levels of knowledge that health care workers working in family health centers and community health centers of the Sanlıurfa Directorate of Public Health have about the National Cancer Screening Standards (NCSS). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The target population of the study consisted of 1019 healthcare professionals (physicians and non-physicians) working in Family Health Centers and Community Health Centers in the city of Sanlıurfa. All relevant health care workers were included in the study but only 776 individuals participated in the study. The study data were collected with a structured questionnaire by interviewing the participants face-to-face. Descriptive statistics, chi square and Mann-Whitney U test were used in the analysis of data. Results: Of the health care workers who participated in the study, 25.4% were physicians, 74.6% non-physician healthcare professionals (27.2% nurses, 36.1% midwives, 10.8% emergency medicine technicians, and 0.5% health officers). The levels of health care workers to know the programs included in NCSS (such as breast cancer screening program, colorectal cancer screening program etc.) vary between 11.2% and 23.2%. The level of knowledge the entire NCSS is 6.3% We have determined the state of accurately knowing the entire NCSS was higher in those who had previously trained and in non-physician healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Primary health care workers have low levels of knowledge regarding the NCSS and it is necessary to quickly meet the knowledge deficit regarding the missing programs.

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