title: Evaluation of the pap smear test status of Turkish women and related factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Pap smear has an important value in the early diagnosis of cervical cancer, a serious problem in womens health. This study aimed to determine the status of Turkish women regarding participation in Pap smear testing and affecting factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study was conducted on married women between 18-61 years of age selected from those who applied to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Polyclinic of Ataturk University in Erzurum between June-August 2010 for any reason. Data were collected using a questionnaire determining socio-demographic features and analyzed by descriptive statistics (mean, Sd, range, frequency, percentage) and Chi-square test. A level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty six of the 301 women (21.9%) indicated that they heard a Pap smear test and 16.6% of women had experienced a test. The number of women participating increased with age, duration of marriage, number of births, knowledge about the Pap smear and perception of risk for cervical cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The importance of the Pap smear test needs to be explained to Turkish women by health staff, to increase awareness and participation in regular screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey. okarabulutlu@atauni.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karabulutlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult