The evaluation of knowledge, attitude and behaviors and affecting factors for colorectal cancer screening of physically disabled individuals

SUMMARY MASTER THESIS THE EVALUATION OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIORS AND AFFECTING FACTORS FOR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING OF PHYSICALLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS SÜRÜK, Ümit Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Health Sciences Institute Department of Nursing, Internal Medicine Nursing Master's Program Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Züleyha Kılıç Eylül 2024, 82 pages This descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of individuals with physical disabilities towards colorectal cancer screening and the influencing factors. The study was conducted between January 2023 and September 2024 with 101 physically disabled individuals who received inpatient treatment at the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Services of the Kozaklı Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, who met the inclusion criteria of the study and agreed to participate in the study. The data of the study were collected using a questionnaire form, the Barthel Daily Living Activities Index and the Colorectal Cancer Screening Behaviors Benefit and Disability Perception Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t test and ANOVA (F) were used in the evaluation of the data. The p<0.05 value was considered statistically significant. In the study, it was determined that 75.2% of individuals with physical disabilities did not participate in colorectal cancer screening, 71.3% did not have information about colorectal cancer screening programs, 13.9% had only FOBT, 3% had only colonoscopy, and 7.9% had both screening tests. It was stated that the biggest obstacle to participation in the colorectal cancer screening program was insufficient information about screening programs, and the other most frequently stated obstacles were transportation due to physical disability, not getting a turn due to other diseases, and not having an accompanying person in transportation to the health center. In the study, it was determined that the FOBT benefit perception of individuals with physical disabilities was 9.90±2.42,, FOBT barrier perception was 17±5.02, colonoscopy benefit perception was 15.96±3.06, and colonoscopy barrier perception was 43.32±5. n this study, the mean scores of men's colonoscopy barrier perception, those with a medium income level and housewives' colonoscopy benefit perception, individuals living in the district's FOBT and colonoscopy benefit perception, and disabled individuals using medical devices' colonoscopy barrier perception were higher than other groups (p<0.05). As a result, it was determined that the knowledge levels and participation rates of physically disabled individuals within the scope of the study regarding colorectal cancer screening were low. It was determined that individuals' FOBT benefit perception was above average, FOBT barrier perception was low, colonoscopy benefit perception was high, and colonoscopy barrier perception was above average. In order to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in physically disabled individuals, regular training should be provided, and multidisciplinary initiatives should be planned to eliminate and improve the barriers experienced by individuals. Keywords; nursing, colorectal cancer, screening program, barrier perception, benefit perception