- Can H, Kılıç Öztürk Y, Güçlü YA, Öztürk F, Demir Ş. Cervical Cancer Awareness of Female Health Professionals. Tepecik Egit Hast Derg 2010;20(2):77-84
CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS OF FEMALE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS OF FEMALE HEALTH EMPLOYEES
SUMMARY
OBJECTIVE: The level of knowledge of female healthcare professionals working at Tepecik Training and Research Hospital (TEAH) about cervical cancer and risk factors for cervical cancer; The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes and habits regarding the routinely recommended gynecological examination and pap smear.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with female health personnel working in TEAH during January 2010. The study was completed with 316 female health personnel who were currently or in the past sexually active and agreed to participate in the study. Patients who had undergone hysterectomy and/or were diagnosed with gynecological cancer were excluded from the study.
RESULTS: Of the 316 female health workers participating in the study, 110 (34.8%) had had Pap smear test at least once before, while 206 (65.2%) had never had this test. It was determined that 73 (23.1%) of these women had regular gynecological examinations and 243 (76.9%) had never had a gynecological examination. In our study, the rate of having a Pap smear test was found to be high in women who had knowledge about the Pap smear test, had regular gynecological examinations, had knowledge about cervical cancer and its risks, Human Papilloma Virus and its vaccine.
CONCLUSION: Due to the role of health personnel in preventive health services, it is necessary to organize in-service trainings and to determine their knowledge levels and deficiencies with epidemiological studies in order to eliminate the lack of knowledge.
Keywords: Cervical cancer, Female health workers, Pap smear test
