The effect of mindfulness-based coping program on cancer fear and awareness level in women undergoing colposcopy: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: This study is aimed at determining the effect of the Mindfulness Basic Initiation Program on cancer fear and level of awareness in women undergoing colposcope. Method: The study used pre-test-post-test randomized controlled single-blind experimental method. The research was carried out with women undergoing colposcopy from January 2022 to March 2023 at the Gynecology Oncology Polyclinic of the Hospital of the School of Medicine of the Mediterranean University. The study sample included 72 women, 36 interventions, and 36 controls, as determined using the block randomization method. In the mindfulness-based coping program, six sessions were applied to women in the intervention group for two weeks; no intervention was applied to women in the control group. Data were collected using the Cancer Worry Scale and the Philadelphia Awareness Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent two-sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, correlation, and regression analysis were used in the data analysis. Results: In the study, it was determined that the mean cancer worry score of the women in the intervention group decreased significantly compared to the control group, Philadelphia Awareness Scale the mean discrimination sub-dimension score was significantly higher than the control group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). After the program, Philadelphia Awareness Scale the mean acceptance sub-dimension score of the women in the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study found that the Mindfulness Basic Initiation Program, used as a nursing initiative, increases awareness that women are less afraid of cancer. It is recommended that this program be integrated into clinical practice and be used more widely by health professionals. Key words: Cancer, Fear, ScreeningMindfulness, Nursing, Patient Education