BACKGROUND: The workplace has been deemed a suitable
location for educating many women at once about cancer screening.
OBJECTIVE: To determine how group education about early
diagnostic methods for breast and cervical cancer effects women's behavior
and readiness to receive mammography and Pap smear.
METHODS: This semi-interventional study was conducted at a
textile factory in Istanbul, Turkey. Female workers (n= 125) were included in
the study. A participant identification form and knowledge evaluation form
developed for this study, along with the transtheoretical model, were used
to collect data. A 45-min interactive group education was given to the
participants.
RESULTS: Upon contacting participants 3 months after group
education, 15.4% (n = 11) stated that they had since received a mammogram
and 9.8% (n = 7) a Pap smear. As suggested by the transtheoretical model,
group education increased participants' readiness to receive cancer
screening, along with their knowledge of breast and cervical cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: Group education positively impacted women's
knowledge of cancer and their readiness to receive mammography and Pap
smear. Group education can potentially create awareness of cancer screening
tests among women and improve their readiness to receive such tests.
