The Invisible Threat of the Pandemic: Cervical Cancer Screening Change According to Health Belief of Women

Year 2023, , 502 - 512, 15.10.2023

Emine Gerçek Öter , Buse Güler , Hande Yağcan

https://doi.org/10.46483/jnef.1375536

Abstract

Background: During the pandemic process, changes were made in cancer screening programs in order to reduce the density of hospitals and prevent the spread of the pandemic.

Objective: To determine the health beliefs, thoughts and practices of women regarding cervical cancer and pap-smear testing during the COVID-19.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out with 361 women who filled out the questionnaire online through the social media application. Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test Health Belief Model Scale was used to collect data.

Results: The women’s 81.2% stated that they did not have a pap smear test and 72.6% of them stated that the pap smear test should not be postponed during the pandemic. Their 76.7% stated that they did not want to get a self-swab smear test at home during the pandemic, 49.3% of them stated that they could get Human Papilloma Virus vaccine in the pandemic. Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test Health Belief Model Scale sub-dimension mean scores of Pap smear benefits and motivation (15.12 ± 4.96), pap smear barriers (40.09 ± 6.79), cervical cancer care/seriousness (26.21 ± 2.62), cervical cancer sensitivity (12.96 ± 1.88) and cervical cancer health motivation (7.36 ± 2.37).

Conclusion:Although women’s perception of pap-tests and their level of cervical cancer sensitivity was found high, most of them did not have pap smear screening in the pandemic period. This may increase the incidence of cervical cancer in the future. In order for women to continue their participation in screening programs during the pandemic, health personnel should take the necessary precautions according to restriction and relaxation processes.

Keywords

Cervical Cancer, COVID-19, Health Belief Model, Pap Smear, Thought

Pandeminin Görünmez Tehdidi: Kadınların Sağlık İnançlarına Göre Serviks Kanseri Tarama Değişimi

Abstract

Giriş: Pandemi sürecinde gerek hastanelerin yoğunluğunu azaltmak gerekse pandeminin yayılmasını önlemek amacıyla kanser tarama programlarında değişikliklere gidilmiştir.

Amaç: Kadınların COVID-19 sürecinde serviks kanseri ve pap-smear testi ile ilgili sağlık inançlarını, düşüncelerini ve uygulamalarını belirlemektir.

Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışma, sosyal medya uygulaması üzerinden online olarak 361 kadın ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Verilerin toplanmasında Serviks Kanseri ve Pap Smear Testi Sağlık İnanç Modeli Ölçeği kullanılmıştır.

Bulgular: Kadınların %81.2’si pandemide pap smear testi yaptırmadığını ve %72.6’sı pandemi döneminde pap smear testinin ertelenmemesi gerektiğini ifade etti. Kadınların %76.7’si evde smear testini kendi kendine sürüntü alarak yapmak istemediklerini, %49.3’ü pandemide Human Papilloma Virüs aşısı yaptırabileceğini ifade etti. Serviks Kanseri ve Pap Smear Testi Sağlık İnanç Modeli Ölçeği alt boyut puan ortalamaları Pap smear yararları ve motivasyonu 15.12 ± 4.96, pap smear engelleri 40.09 ± 6.79, serviks kanseri bakımı/ciddiliği 26.21 ± 2.62, serviks kanseri duyarlılığı (12.96 ± 1.88) ve serviks kanseri sağlık motivasyonu 7.36 ± 2.37’dir.

Sonuç: Kadınların pap testi algısı ve serviks kanseri duyarlılık düzeyleri yüksek bulunmasına rağmen pandemi döneminde çoğu pap smear taraması yaptırmamıştır. Bu durum serviks kanserinin önümüzdeki yıllarda görülme oranını artırabilir. Kadıların tarama programlarına katılımın devam edebilmesi için sağlık personelinin kısıtlama ve normalleşme süreçlerine göre gerekli önlemleri alması gerekmektedir.

Keywords

Serviks Kanseri, COVID-19, Sağlık İnanç Modeli, Pap Smear, Düşünce

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