title: Relations between breast and cervical cancer prevention behaviour of female students at a school of health and their healthy life style.
abstract: Regular breast self-examination (BSE) and pap-smear tests are the two of the positive heath behaviors for improving, promoting and protecting the health of adolescent girls. The present quasi-experimental research was carried out with the purpose of analyzing the relations between breast and cervical cancer prevention behavior of female students at a School of Health and their health lifestyle. The research was conducted at Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Health between November 2008 and February 2009. A total of 77 female students attending the first and second grades were included in the sample. Education pertinent to the matter was provided and evaluation was made three months later. A knowledge evaluation form for breast and gynecological examination, the Healthy Life-Style Behavior Scale (HPLP), was used in data collection. Number percentages, the McNemar Bowker test, the t test and the Mann Whitney U test were used in the evaluation. Despite the information they had received, not all of the students performed regular breast self-examination (BSE) prior to the education. For 24.7% (n=19) the reason for not doing regular BSE was their having no symptoms and for 29.9% (n=23) it was due to thinking that they would not have breast cancer. The reason for not having pap smear test was a virgin status. Three months after the education, knowledge level scores of the students increased approximately three and a half times (from 23.8-9.8) to 81.2-8.0). The rate of having regular BSE was 88.3% after three months, however; there was no pap smear test probably due to the fact that it was a taboo. When the rate of having regular BSE three months after the education and HLPL scores were compared, the scores of those having it regularly and the scores of those not having it regularly were found to be close and no statistically significant difference was detected (p> 0.05). In conclusion, consultancy service units should be established to comprehend the barriers perceived by adolescent girls who do not have regular health screening, to make appropriate strategic planning in order to eradicate the hindrances in Muslim societies and to enhance the motivation of youth with continuous education.
authors.affiliation: Medical Surgical Nursing Department, School of Health Science, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey. arzutunamalak@gmail.com
authors.forename: Arzu Tuna
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Malak
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Aslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuna
authors.forename: Aysun Babacan
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gümüs
authors.forename: Ayse San
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Turgay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult