title: Breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening status of a group of Turkish women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to determine the breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rates and the influencing factors in a group of Turkish females.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study was conducted in a School of Nursing. The study sample consisted of 603 females who were the mothers/neighbors or relatives of the nursing students. Data collection forms were developed by the investigators after the relevant literature was screened and were used to collect the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the women aged 30 and over, 32.8% had undergone a pap smear test at least once in their life. Of those aged 50 and over, 48.2% had undergone mammography at least once and FOBT had been performed in 12% of these women in their life. Having heard of the screening tests before, knowing why they are done, and having information on the national cancer screening program were important factors influencing the rates of women having these tests done.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that the rates of women participating in national cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer screening programs are not at the desired levels. Having heard of the screening tests before, knowing why they are done, and having information on the national cancer screening program were important factors influencing the rates of women having these tests done. It is suggested that written and visual campaigns to promote the service should be used to educate a larger population, thus increasing the participation rates for cancer screening programs.
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Nursing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologic Nursing, Ankara, Turkey. guvencgulden@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Guvenc
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gulten
authors.forename: Seven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Memnun
authors.forename: Kilic
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ayse
authors.forename: Akyuz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aygul
authors.forename: Akcan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulcin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009780:Occult Blood; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data