The effect of cancer information overload and anxiety on women's knowledge and behaviors regarding vulvar cancer

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the knowledge levels regarding vulvar cancer and the practice of vulvar self-examination (VSE) among women aged 55 and over, and to examine the relationship of cancer information overload and cancer worry with these variables. Methods: The sample of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 384 women aged 55 and over living in the Aziziye district of Erzurum. Data were collected using a Socio-Demographic Characteristics Information Form, the Cancer Information Overload Scale, the Cancer Worry Scale, and the Vulvar Cancer Knowledge and Early Diagnosis Behaviors Questionnaire Form developed by the researcher. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, Spearman correlation, and logistic regression methods were used in the analyses. Results: The participants' mean score on the Cancer Information Overload Scale was 20.77±4.55, the mean score on the Cancer Worry Scale was 17.77±5.63, and the mean Vulvar Cancer Knowledge score was 13.31±4.18. It was determined that 20.3% of the women performed VSE. Women who performed VSE had significantly higher levels of vulvar cancer knowledge (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the only variable predicting VSE behavior was the level of vulvar cancer knowledge (OR=0.73; p<0.001). No statistically significant relationship was found between cancer information overload or cancer worry and VSE behavior. Vulvar cancer knowledge level was found to be significantly associated with educational status, social security, employment status, and age. Conclusion: Although cancer information overload and cancer worry were relatively high among the women, the main factor determining early diagnosis behavior was found to be the level of knowledge specific to vulvar cancer. To promote the widespread adoption of VSE, priority should be given to targeted educational programs focused on imparting knowledge and skills.