Turkish Social Attitudes towards to Cancer Prevention: a Health Belief Model Study

Abstract

This research was planned to reveal society’s attitude towards cancer and early diagnosis using the healthbelief model. This study was planned as descriptive research in Isparta. A random sample of n=256 individualsof both genders was recruited at the largest shopping center. As a means of collection tool, a survey consisted oftwo forms, the first designed for sociodemographic information and the second covering 29 questions suitablefor the content of Health Belief Model. Of the participants, 66.8% were female and 33.2% were male, and theaverage age was 33.3±11.0 years. Some 46.1% partly thought that they may develop cancer, and 49.6% wereafraid of this possibility. As many as 50% indicated that cancer is an issue that comes from Allah. A significantdifference was found between not going for control unless feeling bad, and blood analysis for cancer screening(χ2=3.780 p= 0.03). It was seen that in an area with a high rate of cancer, people’s awareness of cancer preventionand early diagnosis and attitudes towards these are insufficient.