Research of cancer screening test knowledge levels and awareness of healthcare workers who work in family health centers and community health centers in Van province

ABSTRACT Research of Cancer Screening Test Knowledge Levels and Awareness of Healthcare Workers Who Work In Family Health Centers and Community Health Centers In Van Province Objective: The aim of our study is to measure the knowledge level of the healthcare workers who provide service in primary care to determine the status of making CST of healthcare workers in the risk group, to ensure that precautions are taken by determining the recommendations of healthcare workers to increase the participation of both our people and healthcare workers in cancer screening tests (CST). Materials/Methods: Our study carried out on 301 healthcare workers working in the family health centers (TSM) and community health centers in Van Province by using survey method. Our survey consists of 32 questions. The answers are prepared as multiple choice and gap filling. The questionnaires were completed by face to face interview method. The sociodemographic characteristics of the healthcare workers, the level of knowledge about cancers, the extent to which they have knowledge about CST, the state of having CST, the reasons for not having a CST if they didn't have CST, and their suggestion to increase their participation in CST were investigated. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 13) and Chi-Square Test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Of the participants, 3.3%(n:10) were specialist family physicians, 36.6%(n:110) were general practitioners, 36.9%(n:111) were midwives, 20.6%(n:62) were nurses, 2.7%(n:8) were family health workers out of midwives and nurses (emergency medicine technician (ATT), paramedic, laborant). 36.2%(n:109) of the individuals were male, 63.8%(n:192) were female healthcare workers, 37.5%(n:113) were single, 61.1%(n:184) were married and 1.3%(n:4) stated that they were divorced. While all the participants thought that CST was necessary, 31.6%(n:95) reported that they had CST. It was found out that from the healthcar workers 37.8%(n:36) midwives, 29.4%(n:28) general practitioners, 25.3%(n:24) nurses, 4.2%(n:4) specialist family physicians and 3.2%(n:3) family health worker (ASE) out of midwives and nurses had CST and the difference was found significant (p:0.001). 25.9%(n:78) of the participants were in the appropriate age range for cervical cancer screening. Of these, 55.1%(n:43) reported that they had CST, and 44.9%(n:35) did not have CST. While 34.2%(n:12) of these who did not have CST did not state the reasons for not having CST, 20%(n:7) of them thought that they were not in the risk group. 2.9%(n:9) of the participants were in the appropriate age range for breast cancer screening. Of these, 66.7%(n:6) stated that they had CST. 33.3%(n:3) reported that they did not. All those who did not have CST did not specify the reasons for not having CST. Of the participants, 78.1%(n:235) reported that they received TRS Training, 74%(n:222) reported that trainings were not sufficient. While 27.8% of heath care workers in the age group of 26-30 stated that the CST trainings given were insufficient. The difference was found statistically significant (p:0.004). While in the recommendations of the participant to increase the participation of health care workers in CST, 29,5%(n:89) "Training should be given." 21%(n:63) "The frequency of education should be increased.", 32.5%(n:98) "CST should be introduced with public spot", 14.2% (n:43) "Mobile CST should be increased." are included at the first three. Of the individuals, 1.5%(n:155) know the cancer types screened in our country, 75.4%(n:227) know the CSTs applied free of charge, 55.8%(n:168) know the common features of CST (inexpensive, easy to be practicable, low false negativity, low false positivity, applicable to large masses). 33.9%(n:102) correctly know which institutions are responsible for the CST. 51.2%(n:154) of the health care workers answered the two most common disease group causing death in our country and 83.1%(n:250) correctly responded to the most common type of cancer causing death. When asked about the most common type of concer that led to deaths, 94.5%(n:104) of general practitioners, 90%(n:9) of the specialist family physicians, 79%(n:49) of the nurses. 73.9%(n:82) of the midwives, 75%(n:6) of the ASE s out of midwives and nurses responded correctly and difference between them was found statistically significant (p:0.001). 36.9%(n:111) of tge participants correctly answered the most commo type of cancer in our country. While general practitioners, 75.5(n:83) responded correctly at the highest rate to the most common type of cancer in women, specialist family physicians answered 70%(n:7) correctly. At the lowest rate, the midwives answered 46.8%(n:52) correctly and the difference between them was found statistically significant (p:0.001). When asked about the most common type of cancer in men, 28.9% of the participants responded correctly. While 50%(n:9) of the family physicians and ASEs out of midwives and nurses responds correctly, 39.1%(n:43) of general practitioners and 18%(n:20) of midwives gave the correct answer. The difference between them was found statistically significant (p:0.002). While 50%(n:9) of healthcare workers at the age of 40 and over gave the right anwer to the most common cancer question in women in our country, 14.3%(n:6) of healthcare workers in the age group of 18-25 gave the right answer and the difference was found significant (p:0.01). Of the participants, 74.1%(n:223) responded correctly to how often breast cancer screening should be done, 21.6%(n:65) answered correctly appropriate age range of the breast cancer screening, 67.4%(n:203) answered correctly the breast cancer screening tests. When the tests used in tge breast cancer screening were questioned, while 82.7%(n:91) of the general practitioners responded correctly at the highest rate, 80%(n:8) of the specialist family physicians and 54%(n:60) of midwives -at the lowest rate- answered correctly. The difference between them was found statistically significant (p:0.001). When we look at the wrong answers given to this question, it was seen that 68.3%(n:67) of the respondents who gave wrong answers were aware of USG as being used in breast CST. While this rate was found highest in midwives 31.5%(n:35), it was found to be 12.7%(n:14) in general practitioners and 10%(n:1) in the specialist family physicians(p:0.006). 53.2%(n:160) of the participants know the appropriate age range for cervical cancer screening, 86%(n:259) know the test used in cervical cancer screening and 8%(n:24) know Papilloma Virus-Deoxiribo Nucleic Acid (HPV-DNA) positivity rate in the patients diagnosed withcervical cancer, 78.4%(n:236) know how often cervical cancer screening should be repeated. Midwives ranks the first with the 91%(n:101) correct response rate. Since there is no participant in the colorectal cancer (CRC) risk group, we have no data regarding the rate of application in the participants. It was determined that 89.7% participants correctly knew the methods used in CRC screening. 28.6%(n:86) of the individuals who participated in our study correctly answered the question that at which age the ones who have CRC story in the first degree relatives should start Fecal Occult Blood Test. 37.5%(n:3) of ASEs out of midwives and nurses, 10%(n:1) of specialist family physicians, 36%(n:40) of general practitioners gave the correct answers to the question of of at which age the CRC test should be started in the ones who have CRC in the first degree relatives and this difference was found that statistically significant (p:0.002). Conclusion: In our study it was found that primary health care workers did not have enough information about cancers and CST and some of their knowledge on these subjects were also false. When we look at the ones in the risk group for cancer from our health care workers including family physicians firstly who consulted the community in this sense and also the role models, it was determined that the rates of conducting CST were extremely low. In terms of both the health of the healthcare workers and the health of all individuals in the society, we think that in all institutions that train or employ health care workers, more time should be devoted to trainings for CST, and we think that attention of healthcare workers and society should be drawn to this issue by devoting more time to trainings for CST.