THE EFFECT OF CANCER EDUCATION ON WOMEN'S AWARENESS LEVELS AND THEIR BEHAVIORS ON SCREENINGS

Disability is part of being human. Everyone may be temporarily or permanently disabled at some point in their life, and it has been stated that they will experience increasing difficulties in functioning in old age. He estimates that the prevalence of disability among women is 60% higher than that of men.

Disabled women coexist in a dual state of vulnerability where "being a woman" and "being a disabled person" have two social disadvantages. Among people with disabilities, women with physical disabilities have higher unmet healthcare needs than women without disabilities.

Cancer is an important public health problem and cause of death all over the world. According to the Turkish Cancer Statistics, it is estimated that approximately 69,633 women are diagnosed with cancer in our country. Among the most common cancers in women; breast, uterine corpus, ovarian and cervix cancers are seen to be prominent, respectively. It is known that with regular examinations and screenings, early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer increases the chance of treatment.

International studies show that women face barriers and difficulties in accessing reproductive health and cancer screening services. In the study of Horner-Johson et al., it was stated that especially rural women with disabilities had lower mammography and Pap-smear tests compared to non-disabled women. It is emphasized that as a result of lower screening participation of persons with disabilities, there is a higher risk of cancer mortality with delayed diagnosis.

In another study investigating the reasons why women with physical disabilities do not engage in preventive health services; time constraints and priorities, interactions between health professionals and women with disabilities, lack of knowledge, belief, sensitivity, belief that people with disabilities have more information than service providers, economic problems, transportation problems, appointment problems, availability of accessible facilities, physical pain, mammography, pap smear It has been stated that factors such as both psychological and physical discomfort during the test and pelvic examination are effective.

In recent years, the Health Belief Model (SIM) has been frequently used to examine the effect of health beliefs on cancer screening behaviors in women and to increase screening rates. The model explains the beliefs and attitudes that affect the behavior of individuals. The most basic components of the model are the perception of susceptibility, the perception of seriousness, the perception of benefit, the perception of obstacles, the health motivation and the perception of trust. The SIM recommends that if a person has a desire to prevent illness or a belief in recovery, he or she should take a specific health action to prevent illness as a positive behavior. In an interventional study conducted with Korean-American women to improve breast cancer screening, using SIM for early diagnosis and behavioral change, it was determined that the rate of mammography and Breast Self-Examination (BSE) application rates increased significantly. It has been emphasized that nurses have important roles and responsibilities in the protection and development of health, and that they can identify disabled individuals who are considered "fragile" and provide health education and counseling to these groups. It is thought that awareness training on cancers that are common in women, given under the guidance of the Health Belief Model, will bring the preventive health behavior of women with disabilities to the desired level. When the literature is examined, the limited number of randomized controlled studies that will increase the participation of disabled women in cancer screening services increases the importance of the subject.

Disabled women experience inequalities in benefiting from routine health services and health screening services in special areas such as reproductive health and protection from cancers that are common in women. Being diagnosed with cancer is undoubtedly devastating for anyone. For this reason, it becomes more important to raise awareness about the prevention, prevention and early diagnosis of cancers that are common in women with physical disabilities, to raise awareness on this issue and to encourage health-seeking behaviors.

This study was conducted to determine the barriers for women with physical disabilities between the ages of 18-65 to adopt behaviors to diagnose common cancers in women at an early stage, and to increase participation in early diagnosis behaviors in cancers that are common in women (Breast Self Examination (BSE), Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), Self-Examination). Vulva Self Examination (KKVM), Mammography and PapSmear Test) was planned to determine the effectiveness of awareness training based on SIM.