Gynaecological cancer awareness and healthy lifestyle behaviors of women aged 20-65 years: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Beril Nisa Yaşar, Sevda Arslan Şeker

Abstract

For both individual and community health, women's health is vital. In particular, gynecological cancers can be prevented or treated by adopting healthy lifestyles, raising awareness, and detecting them early. This study aimed to identify levels of gynecological cancer awareness and healthy lifestyle behaviors among women aged 20-65 years. There were 251 women in the descriptive cross sectional study. The Gynecological Cancers Awareness Scale (GCAS), the Descriptive Characteristics Form, and the Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale-II (HLBS-II) were used to gather data. The data was analyzed using the Pearson's correlation test, multiple linear regression, and descriptive statistics. The average HLBS-II score was 123.53±20.75, while the average GCAS score was 149.64±21.30. The HLBS-II and GCAS scores showed a statistically significant positive correlation. Women knowledgeable about early diagnosis methods scored 10.758 times higher on the GCAS, while women familiar with vulvar self-examination scored 11.016 times higher. Employed women had a mean HLBS-II score 6.124 times higher than non-employed women (p<0.05). Women's awareness of gynecological cancer was high, but they also had moderately good lifestyle choices. To raise awareness and promote healthy lifestyle choices, healthcare professionals are advised to take part in health-promoting initiatives.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M,

Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, and Bray F. Global cancer

statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence

and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185

countries. CA Cancer J Clin 2021;71(3):209–249.

Doi:10.3322/caac.21660.

Cancer Research TR. Cancer statistics reports for Türkiye.

Available

https://hsgm.saglik.gov.tr/depo/birimler/kanser

db/Dokumanlar/Istatistikler/Kanser_Rapor_2018

Accessed May 12, 2023

at

Staples JN and Duska LR. Cancer screening and

prevention highlights in gynecologic cancer. Obstet

Gynecol Clin North Am 2019;46(1):19–36.

Doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2018.09.002

Duman FN, Özdemir A and Gölbaşı Z. Determining the

relationship between gynecologic cancer awareness

and health literacy among women of reproductive

age: a descriptive study. Res Square. 2024. Doi:

21203/rs.3.rs-4554905/v1.

Fonnes T, Telle IO, Forsse D, Falck R, Trovik J,

Haldorsen IS and Krakstad, C. Cancer awareness in

the general population varies with sex, age, and

media coverage: a population-based survey with

focus on gynecologic cancers. Eur J Obstet Gynecol

Reprod

Biol

Doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.10.051

;256:25–31.

Alp Dal N, Akkuzu G and Çetinkaya Şen Y. Investigation

of gynecological cancer awareness of Ufuk

University women’s employees. J Midwifery Health

Sci 2020;3(2):91–99.

Gözüyeşil E, Düzgün AA and Filiz T. Evaluation of

gynecological cancer awareness of women applying

for a family health center. Turk J Fam Med Prim Care

;14(2):177–85.

Kaya Şenol D, Polat F and Doğan M. Gynecological

cancer

awareness:

reproductive

age

and

postmenopausal women. Turk J Fam Med Prim Care

;15(1):56–62.

Özcan H and Demir Doğan M. Gynecological cancer

awareness among women. Indian J Gynecol Oncol

;19(13):1–9. Doi:10.1007/s40944-020-00481

w.

Teskereci G, Arslan ÜÖ and Öncel S. The awareness

levels of women on gynecological cancer in Turkey:

a cross-sectional study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet

;156(3):539–45. Doi:10.1002/ijgo.13745

Demir G and Arıöz A. Healthy lifestyle behaviors of

migrant women and influencing factors. J Duzce

Univ Health Sci Inst 2014;4(2):1–8.

Gök Uğur H and Aydın Avcı İ. The effect of healthy

lifestyle attitudes of women who have applied to the

cancer inspection center on early diagnosis

knowledge and implementations. Gumushane Univ J

Health Sci 2015;4(2):244–58.

Hansen JM, Nagle CM, Ibiebele TI, Grant PT, Obermair

A, Friedlander ML, DeFazio A, Webb PM and

Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle Study

Group. A healthy lifestyle and survival among

women with ovarian cancer. Int J Cancer

;147(12):3361–9. Doi:10.1002/ijc.33155.

Pehlivan Z, Ada EN and Öztaş G. Healthy lifestyle

behaviours and social appearance anxiety of

housewives. Hacettepe J Sport Sci 2017;28(1):11

von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gøtzsche

PC and Vandenbroucke JP. The Strengthening the

Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology

(STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting

observational studies. Int J Surg Open2014;12:1495

Doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2014.07.013

Alp Dal N and Ertem G. Gynecological cancer awareness

scale development study. J Hum Soc Sci Res

;6(5):2351–67.

Walker SN, Sechrist KR and Pender NJ. The Health

Promoting Lifestyle Profile: development and

psychometric

characteristics.

;36(2):76–81.

Nurs

Res

Walker SN and Hill-Polerecky DM. Psychometric

evaluation of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile

II. Unpublished manuscript. 1996, University of

Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.

Bahar Z, Beşer A, Gördes N, Ersin F and Kıssal A.

Healthy Life Style Behavior Scale II: a reliability and

validity study. J Cumhuriyet Univ Sch Nurs

;12(1):1–13.

Aydın R, Karakısla FS and Kabukcuoğlu K.

Determination of the relationship between

gynecological cancer awareness and fear of cancer in

women using social media and the affecting factors.

Cancer

Nurs

;10.1097/NCC.0000000000001230.

Jia Y, Li S, Yang R, Zhou H, Xiang Q, Hu T, Zhang, Q,

Chen Z, Ma D and Feng L. Knowledge about

cervical cancer and barriers of screening program

among women in Wufeng County, a high-incidenceregion of cervical cancer in China. PLoS One

;8(7). Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067005.

Thapa M. Cervical cancer awareness and practice of Pap

smear test among women with gynecological

problems. J Nepal Med Assoc 2018;56(211):654–7

Gökgöz N and Aktaş D. Determination of women

awareness level of cervical cancer & conducting Pap

smear test. Yıldırım Beyazıt Univ J Nurs

;3(2):11–23.

Özen Çınar İ, Kara E. Evaluation of awareness of cervical

cancer and Pap smear test of working women by

health belief model. Bezmiâlem Sci 2020;8(2):113

Doi:10.14235/bas.galenos.2019.3062.

Fallowfield L, Fleissig A, Barrett J, Menon U, Jacobs I,

Kilkerr J, Farewell V and UKCTOCS Trialists.

Awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors, beliefs and

attitudes towards screening. Br J Cancer

;103(4):454–61. Doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605809.

Soliman PT, Bassett RL Jr, Wilson EB, Boyd-Rogers S,

Schmeler KM, Milam MR, Gershenson DM and Lu

KH. Limited public knowledge of obesity and

endometrial cancer risk: what women know. Obstet

Gynecol 2008;112(4):835–42.

Turkey Demographic and Health Survey, Hacettepe

University Institute of Population Studies. Thematic

analysis on reproductive health issues: 1993-2018.

Available at:

https://fs.hacettepe.edu.tr/hips/dosyalar/yayinlar/tem

atik-analizler/0_Tematik-Analizler-.pdf Accessed

March 15, 2024.

Avancini A, D'amico F, Tregnago D, Trestini I,

Belluomini L, Vincenzi S, Canzan F, Saiani L,

Milella M and Pilotto S. Nurses' perspectives on

physical activity promotion in cancer patients: a

qualitative research. Eur J Oncol Nurs.

;55:102061. Doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2021.102061.

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.