Gulpinar Aslan

An Investigation of the Effect of Education Interventions Given to Women in Turkey with Religious Orientation on Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test Health Beliefs

This study aims to examine the effect of education interventions given to women with religious orientation on cervical cancer and Pap smear test health beliefs.The study used a quasi-experimental research design with the pre-test-post-test control group. It was conducted in Qur'an courses in a province in eastern Turkey between January and October 2023. The sample size was calculated using the Gpower computer program. The sample of the study constituted a total of 114 women, 38 women in each group. Data were collected through the Personal Information Form, the Religious Orientation Scale, and the Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test Health Belief Model Scale. The average age of the participating women was 43.41 ± 8.63 years, and 95.6% of them thought that early diagnosis was important in cancer. The groups demonstrated differences in terms of the perceived severity, Pap smear perceived benefit, and Pap smear perceived barrier pre-test mean scores. Pap smear perceived barrier mean score was found to decrease statistically significantly after the education given in the health education group (p < 0.05). This study found that while health education decreased perceived barriers to pap smear tests, religious-based education was found to have no effects.

Determination of Breast Cancer Fatalism in Women and the Investigation of the Relationship Between Women's Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test Health Beliefs with Religious Orientation and Fatalism

This study aims to determine breast cancer fatalism in women and investigate the relationship between women's cervical cancer and pap smear test health beliefs with religious orientation and fatalism. The study, which was conducted as a descriptive and relational screening one, was conducted in the eastern part of Turkey between July and August 2019. The study was conducted with 357 women who were not diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, and who were not pregnant. A positive, significant relationship was found between the Religious Orientation Scale total mean score and Health Motivation and Pap smear Benefit Perception sub-scale mean score. A positive, significant relationship was found between the Fatalism Tendency Scale total mean score and Sensitivity, Importance Perception, Pap smear Benefit Perception and Pap smear Barrier Perception sub-scale mean scores (p < .05). The participating women were found to have a low level of breast cancer fatalism. Religious Orientation and Fatalism Tendency were found to have affected the Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test Health Beliefs. Similar studies are recommended to be conducted in larger groups and different regions.

Identification of the Knowledge Level of Students Receiving Health Education About the Human Papilloma Virus, Screening Tests, and Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination

This study aims to identify the knowledge level of students receiving health education about the human papilloma virus, screening tests, and human papilloma virus vaccination. The present study was designed as a descriptive study. It was conducted in the Nursing department and First and Emergency Aid programs in a city in the Eastern part of Turkey between November and December 2019. The sample of the study included 312 students who volunteered to participate in the study. The data collection tools used were the Socio-demographic Form and the Human Papilloma Virus Knowledge Scale. The students' Human Papilloma Virus Knowledge Scale total mean score was 5.86 ± 6.40. The HPV knowledge Scale total score, the General HPV Knowledge sub-scale, and the General HPV Vaccination Knowledge subs-scale mean scores were found to be significantly higher in women, in those who were enrolled in 3rd year, and in those who were knowledgeable about sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer. The HPV screening Test Knowledge sub-scale mean score was found to be significantly higher in those who were enrolled in 3rd year and who were knowledgeable about cervical cancer (p < 0.05). The results showed that students' knowledge levels about HPV were not sufficient, and variables such as gender, class level, and knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer were found to affect the knowledge level about HPV, screening tests, and vaccination. It is recommended that similar studies should be conducted in larger groups, and initiations to increase the knowledge levels of students should be planned.