Cervical Cancer Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, and Health Literacy Levels of Married Women

• Published in: Journal of cancer education Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. 1270 - 1278
• Main Authors: Tiraki, Zeliha, Yılmaz, Medine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Cancer Research; Cervical cancer; Elementary Schools; Females; Grade 8; Health education; Health literacy; Knowledge; Knowledge Level; Literacy; Marital Status; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Secondary Schools; Self Efficacy; Womens health; Health literacy; Cervical cancer prevention; REALM; Self-efficacy
• ISSN: 0885-8195; 1543-0154
• DOI: 10.1007/s13187-017-1242-3

The purpose of this descriptive and relational study is to investigate the relationship between cervical cancer knowledge and self-efficacy and health literacy levels of married women aged 18–65 years. The study sample consisted of 400 married women (18–65 years old) who presented to a family health center. Independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics; dependent variables were cancer knowledge, self-efficacy, and health literacy level. Of the participants, 67% had a Pap smear. The participants’ median knowledge score was 13 (min–max = 1–21). As the age increased, so did the knowledge score ( p  = 0.001). The secondary school graduates had the lowest knowledge level ( p  = 0.009). The participants’ self-efficacy level was moderate (83.18 ± 7.70). As the educational status increased, so did their self-efficacy. Of the participants, 55.2% had a health literacy level of 7th–8th grade. The health literacy level was lower among the literate, primary school graduate, and advanced-age participants ( p  = 0.000). Increases in the self-efficacy and health literacy levels of the participants positively affected their knowledge status. The participants’ cervical cancer and Pap smear screening knowledge levels increased as their self-efficacy levels increased. The literate or primary school graduate participants had the self-efficacy and health literacy levels.