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Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes and behaviors of people aged 30-70 years towards cancer screening tests and to examine the factors affecting them.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with people aged 30-70 years, who applied to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital between January and March 2021, and met the inclusion criteria. To obtain the data, The Patient Information Form, and the Attitude Scale for Cancer Screening (ASCS) were used.
Results: The mean age of 349 people included in the study was 44.14±9.58 (min:31-max:69) years, and the mean total ASCS score was 101.6±12.85 (min:48-max:120). Those with chronic diseases, those who had a previous cancer screening, and those with a history of cancer in themselves and/or their first-degree relatives had a statistically significantly higher ASCS score (p:0.009; p<0.001; p:0.048; p:0.050, respectively). No significant correlation was found between ASCS score and age, marital status, education level, employment status, and income status.
Conclusions: According to the scores obtained from the scale, it was concluded that their attitudes toward cancer screenings were positive. The presence of chronic disease, personal and/or family history of cancer, and previous cancer screening were the factors that positively affected the attitude toward cancer screening. Due to some characteristics that cannot be changed, such as age and gender, the public should be made aware that there may be a risk of cancer even in people who are already healthy, and that early diagnosis is possible with screening programs.
