The effect of a mobile application-based cervical cancer awareness education program on women's attitudes and behaviors regarding cervical cancer prevention and early diagnosis

Objective: This study evaluated the impact of the 'mServiks Mobile Application', developed for women who have not undergone a Pap test (Pap smear) for 5 years or longer, on women's attitudes and behaviors regarding cervical cancer awareness, prevention, and early diagnosis. Method: The study sample consisted of 120 women (60 intervention, 60 control) who visited the Yıldırım Beyazıt Family Health Center and Zafertepe Family Health Center in Kütahya province between April 2024 and October 2024. Participants were randomized into groups. No intervention was applied to women in the control group. Women in the intervention group received cervical cancer awareness education through the 'mServiks Mobile Application' over a 12-week period. The study data were obtained through the Cervical Cancer Awareness Behavior Questionnaire, the Attitude Scale Toward Cervical Cancer Prevention, the Attitude Scale Toward Early Detection of Cervical Cancer, and the Mobile Application Usability and Usage Evaluation Scale. The obtained data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 27.0 program. Findings: The sociodemographic characteristics of the intervention and control groups were found to be similar. Significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups in terms of cervical cancer awareness, attitudes toward cervical cancer prevention, and attitudes toward early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Additionally, it was determined that the rates of Pap smear testing (21.6%) and HPV vaccination (1.7%) were higher among women in the intervention group. The usability and adherence scores for the 'mServiks Mobile Application' were found to be high in the intervention group. Conclusion: It was determined that the cervical cancer awareness training provided through the 'mServiks Mobile Application' increased women's awareness levels regarding cervical cancer, had positive effects on their attitudes and behaviors toward prevention and early diagnosis, and is a mobile application with high usability.