Manisa city center primary health care workers; Cancer screening performances and related factors

Objective: To improve the screening coverage rates by evaluating the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of primary health care workers and self perception performances about cancer screenings in Manisa city center. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2018-2019 in family health centers of Manisa Şehzadeler and Yunusemre districts. 101 family physicians and 94 family health staff were reached in the study and the participation rate was 87.8%. Dependent variables; health workers perceptions of cervical, breast and colorectal cancer screenings. Independent variables; Sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge about cancer screening programs, attitudes and behavior characteristics, geographical region, cancer screening infrastructure features. Type 1 error level was taken as 0.05. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for categorical data, and T test was used for independent groups in continuous data. On the other hand, the estimated relative risks in the 95% confidence interval were calculated by logistic regression analysis. Results: Detected total scan performance risk; 2.9 (95% CI 1.2-7.0) for those with less income, 3.6 (95% CI 1.6-7.9) with negative stool blood test attitude, 14.9 (95% CI 2.2-99.5) in urban areas, and semi-urban workers 23.8 (95% CI 3.1-184.3) were found to be insufficient. Conclusion: The perceived performance for all three cancer screenings increases the risk of inadequacy in urban and semi-urban areas, negative attitudes towards FOBT, and lower income. Recommendations: Income perceptions, physical conditions and software systems of primary health care workers should be improved and problems related to cancer screening in urban and semi-urban areas should be identified. Key words: Primary care, cancer screening, perceived performance