EVALUATION OF WOMEN'S BELIEFS ABOUT PAP SMEAR SCREENING USING THE HEALTH BELIEF MODEL SCALE

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate women's beliefs about screening Pap smear test. Material and Method: The survey has been conducted through a questionnaire prepared by researchers, based on the Health Belief Model Scale for the Pap smear test. The participants consisted of 266 women between 18-70 years of age registered at a Family Health Center in Izmir. Their beliefs about screening Pap smear test were evaluated using the Health Belief Model Scale. Results: The mean age of first sexual intercourse was 21.67 +/- 4.5 (min:13--max:45 years), 86.5% reported a single partner and 41.0% of them (n=109) had never undergone a Pap smear test. Women who previously had a Pap smear test had high scores of sensitivity, seriousness, advantage and motivation, health motivation subscales, but the mean scores for obstacles were low. There was a difference between seriousness, health motivation subscales and taking the Pap smear test (p=0.021, p=0.006). The Mean scores of seriousness and health motivation of Health Belief Model Scale were higher. There was no difference between education level, working status and undergoing a Pap test (p>0.05). Conclusion: Having a Pap smear test is still moderately frequent and there are obstacles. Planning the interventions to eliminate Pap smear test barriers is an important issue for family physicians.