Evaluation and comparison of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of individuals with and without family members with cancer towards cancer screening programs

Aim: The aim is to compare the participation in cancer screening programs of individuals with and without a cancer diagnosis in their family (first, second, and third-degree relatives), as well as their knowledge and attitudes regarding cancer screening programs, in light of sociodemographic data, and to explore possible reasons for any differences. Materials and methods: Between May 15, 2024, and October 15, 2024, a survey study was conducted with voluntary participants aged 30 to 70 who applied to the units under the responsibility of the Family Medicine Department of Samsun University Faculty of Medicine. Participants were asked to fill out a validated questionnaire consisting of a total of 52 questions, including sociodemographic data, the Cancer Screening Knowledge Scale, and the Short Form of the Attitude Scale Toward Cancer Screening. The study reached 210 individuals with a family history of cancer and 210 individuals without a family history of cancer, concluding with a total of 420 survey data. In our study, which utilized SPSS v28 and R Studio software for data analysis, p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: In our study, 34.3% (n=72) of individuals with a family history of cancer underwent screening tests, while 65.7% (n=138) did not. In contrast, among individuals without a family history of cancer, the screening test rate was observed to be 19.5% (n=41), and the rate of not undergoing the test was 80.5% (n=169). This difference was found to be statistically significant (p=0.001). When looking at participation rates in screening tests, it was determined that 13.7% (n=22) of individuals over 50 years old had a fecal occult blood test or a colonoscopy performed. The participation rate for mammography screening was 35.1% (n=59) among women over 40, while the rate for smear tests in women over 30 was determined to be 22.9% (n=55). The average score of the individuals who underwent screening tests for 'Knowledge scale for cancer screenings' was 19.6±4.5, while those who did not undergo the tests had an average score of 16.6±5.7. This difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001, t=5.826). The average score for 'Attitude scale towards cancer screening' among those who underwent screening tests was found to be 69.0±8.3, compared to 66.8±9.2 for those who did not. This difference is also statistically significant (p=0.025, t=2.248). A significant positive correlation was found between knowledge scale for cancer screenings and attitude scale towards cancer screening scores among all individuals (n=420) (r=0.374, p<0.001). Conclusion: It has been observed that individuals with a cancer diagnosis in themselves or in their family have higher participation rates in cancer screenings; however, the participation rates in screening programs remain below the targeted levels. As individuals' knowledge about screenings increases, their attitudes towards them also improve. This indicates that improving attitudes towards screenings is possible through increasing knowledge levels. To enhance knowledge levels, it is essential to educate the community. Emphasis should be placed on preventive health services, particularly in primary healthcare institutions. Keywords: Cancer Screening Programs, Colonoscopy, Mammography, Pap Smear