title: Factors affecting cancer screening intention and behavior of the Korean elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we investigated factors influencing cancer screening intention and behavior to develop measures to increase the rate of cancer screening in the Korean elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 425 elderly subjects 65 years of age or older from D city, South Korea. The health behavior characteristics and cancer screening-related and theory of planned behavior (TPB) factors influencing the participant attitudes on cancer screening were examined to identify determinants significantly affecting cancer screening intentions and behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Predictive factors influencing cancer screening behavior included smoking, exercise, cancer concerns, preference for the type of cancer screening, prior experience with the National Cancer Screening Program, perception of the National Cancer Screening Program, behavioral control with respect to cancer screening and cancer screening intentions. The factors influencing cancer screening behavior were different from those for cancer screening intentions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing the cancer screening intentions of the elderly is necessary to raise the rates of cancer screening. Additionally, identifying the inhibitory factors that serve as obstacles to cancer screening in the elderly and changing screening intentions into actual screening behavior is necessary. This study provides a reference for developing and applying policy measures and intervention strategies to increase the cancer screening rates of the elderly in Korea.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Catholic University of Daegu, Daemyung-Dong, Nam-Gu, Daegu, Korea E-mail : kncpjo@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hee-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Nam-Cho
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D011379:Prognosis; D056910:Republic of Korea