title: The effect of web-assisted education and reminders on health belief, level of knowledge and early diagnosis behaviors regarding prostate cancer screening.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of web-assisted education and reminders on health belief, level of knowledge and early diagnosis behaviors regarding prostate cancer screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pretest-posttest longitudinal study, Turkish men over 40 years of age were given an interactive educational session on prostate cancer and prostate cancer screening, and were then given related web-assisted education and consultation for a period of 6 months. As well as the Internet, reminders such as desk calendar, booklets, e-mails and cell phone messages were used in the study. Changes in the screening behaviors, the health belief and knowledge level of patients were examined 3 and 6 months after the interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study, participants' prostate examination rate increased from 9.3% to 19.1% and PSA measurement rate increased from 6.7% to 31.4%. The interventions raised the susceptibility perception on prostate cancer and prostate cancer screening while decreasing the barrier perception (p < 0.05). No change was observed in other health belief components and the level of knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Web-assisted education and reminders provided positive changes in the barrier and susceptibility perceptions of individuals. Participation in the screening also increased.
authors.affiliation: Kafkas University, Kars School of Health, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cantürk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capık
authors.forename: Sebahat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gözüm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017010:Reminder Systems