Health Belief Levels of Adult Individuals on Prevention of Colorectal Cancer and Their Status of Participating in Screening Program

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the health belief levels of the individuals aged 40-70 years for prevention of colorectal cancer and the rates and status of their participating in colorectal cancer screening programs.

Material and Method: This descriptive study was conducted with 237 individuals who admitted to the surgery and internal outpatient clinics of a university hospital. Data were collected with a questionnaire including descriptive characteristics and colorectal cancer knowledge and behaviors of the participants and The Health Belief Model Scale for Protection from Colorectal Cancer was used.

Results: It was determined that 19.8% of the individuals participated in the colorectal cancer screening. Individuals who had knowledge about colorectal cancer screening had 2.5 times more colorectal cancer screening behavior than the other group (Exp (β)/OR=2,246, %95, CI=1,1-4,3).

Conclusion: As a result of this study, the participation in colorectal cancer screening was inadequate, participation in screening, descriptive characteristics and the mean sub scales scores did not change the participation, however the knowledge about colorectal cancer and the age of screening was found to have a positive effect on the participation in the screening.