The effect of health literacy on breast and cervical cancer early diagnosis behaviors

This study was conducted as a descriptive study to determine the effect of health literacy level on breast and cervical cancer early diagnosis behaviors in women between the ages of 18 and 65. The study was carried out with 395 married or sexually active women between the ages of 18-65 who applied to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Policlinic of the Hitit University- Ministry of Health Erol Olçok Training and Research Hospital between 01.06.2019-01.01.2020. Introductory Information Questionnaire and European Health Literacy Scale (ASOY-TR) were used to collect research data. The European Health Literacy Scale mean score of the women participating in the study was 32.43 ± 7.36, and it was determined that 40.3% of the women had a problematic-limited level of health literacy. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean score of the European Health Literacy Scale and knowing what the clinical breast examination of women is, the importance of being a female physician in having a clinical breast examination for screening/control purposes, having a gynecological examination, knowing the Pap-smear test, and having a Pap-smear test before. significant difference was determined (p<0.05). As a result, it was determined that breast and cervical cancer information and early screening practices were insufficient, and insufficient health literacy level prevented participation in cancer screenings. Key Words: Breast cancer, Cervical cancer, Health literacy, Early diagnosis, Nursing