Atatürk Education Research Hospital assessment of knowledge, attitudes and accounts about cancer screening tests at 20 years and more thousand people who apply to Family Medicine polyclinics

Introduction and Objectives: Today, some types of cancer can be prevented by screening programs and the possibility of early diagnosis and treatment can be increased. Cancer mortality is reduced by screening programs, and early diagnosis prognosis is also important. Cancer screening is important and necessary because some types of cancer are among the preventable diseases. The aim of our study was to investigate the attitudes and behaviors of individuals over 20 years of age and to raise awareness about preventable cancers and cancer screening programs. Materials and Methods: From August 2016 to September 2016, 360 people were admitted to the outpatient clinics of Atatürk Education and Research Hospital Family Physicians over 20 years of age. Participants used a face-to-face interview method with 40 questionnaires. Our study was descriptive and cross-sectional. SPSS 15.0 package program was used in the analysis of the data. Findings: Our study had 273 female and 87 male participants. In the distribution according to education levels; 5 non-literate, 1 literate, 37 primary school graduates, 17 secondary school graduates, 66 high school graduates and 234 university graduates participated in the study. The number of cancers in our national cancer screening program was 6 (1.6%) in the 20-29 age group. The remaining 52 (14.4%) responded to an incorrect, incomplete or extra cancer type. In the age group of 30-70 years, 31 (8.6%) people answered correctly and 271 (75.2%) people answered wrong, missing or extra cancer. When they were asked whether they had cancer screening tests at screening age groups; 98 (64.9%) who had mammograms, 144 (72.3%) who had smear, 19 (9.5%) who had HPV-DNA test, 53 (33.3) who had the FOB test and 32 (20.1%) persons. Those who do not have regular cancer screenings stated lack of time and accepting themselves healthy as the cause. In our study, cancer screening tests had a high awareness rate and low concentration rates. Conclusion: The result of our study suggests that individuals' knowledge of national cancer screening programs is adequate. We think that this result comes from the fact that the level of education of the individuals participating in the study is high. Our goal is to increase the awareness of cancer screening programs and to prevent cancer types by providing screening participation of 70% of the targeted population for cancer screening tests to be effective, to reduce cancer-related mortality and morbidity rates. In this context, education and promotion activities should be carried out to educate people with low educational level.