Cervical Cancer Early Diagnosis Behavior: The Important Role of Electronic Health Literacy

Background and Objective: Cervical cancer screening behavior is more prevalent among individuals with a strong grasp of electronic health literacy. This study aimed to determine the relationship between electronic health literacy and attitudes toward early diagnosis of cervical cancer in women.Materials and Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with ۳۰۰ participants between ۲۵ February and ۰۵ May ۲۰۲۴. The study included participants who applied to a hospital in Siirt province of Turkey through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a descriptive information form, the E-Health Literacy Scale and the Cervical Cancer Early Detection Attitude Scale. Descriptive statistics, compare tests, Pearson correlation analysis, and linear regression were conducted for the analysis.Results: The mean age of the participants was ۲۸.۹۱±۴.۹۸ years, and ۴۲.۳% had a high school education or higher. The mean total score of the Cervical Cancer Early Detection Attitude Scale was ۱۰۰.۳۶±۹.۳۸, and the mean total score of the E-Health Literacy Scale was ۳۸.۲۶±۱۰.۰۵, which is at a moderate level. A positive and moderately significant correlation exists between the E-Health Literacy Scale and the Cervical Cancer Early Detection Attitude Scale (r=۰.۳۱۳, p<۰.۰۵). The attitudes towards early diagnosis of cervical cancer were higher in those who had pap smear test, whose family/friends were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and those who received education on cervical cancer and wanted education. These variables were significant predictors explaining ۱۷.۸% of the total variance of attitude towards early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Conclusion: Electronic health literacy and cervical cancer-related characteristics positively influence attitudes toward early diagnosis of cervical cancer. This study highlights the importance of considering women's eHealth literacy in interventions to improve cervical cancer early detection behaviours.

کلیدواژه ها:

Attitude ، Cervical Cancer ، Early diagnosis ، E-health ، Women