The Relation between The Knowledge and Attitudes of Female Students Regarding Gynecological Cancer Prevention and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours

Abstract

Objective: This cross sectional study has been conducted to determine the relationship between the knowledge and attitude of female students regarding gynecological cancer prevention and healthy lifestyle behaviors (HLB). Method: The sample of the study included 802 female students living in Cumhuriyet University Higher Education Student Loan and Housing Board Dormitory in the 2014-2015 school years. The data was collected by interviewing participants via “Personal Information Form”, “Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale” and “Knowledge Assessment Form on Gynecological Cancer Prevention”. Results:Among the students participating in this study 20.9 % were in Faculty of Health Sciences. The mean age of the sample was 20.71 ± 1.68. There were statistically significant differences between the health responsibility, physical exercise, nutrition and stress management subscales of HLB and the status of undergoing gynecological examination (p < 0.05). A linear positive correlation of 17.2 % was found between the total scores of participants in HLB scale and in gynecological cancer prevention (p = 0.000 α = 0.01). The difference between HLB scale scores and the knowledge scores on gynecological cancer prevention (KSGCP) was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.000 < 0.05). The total scores of female students in HLB scale increased in parallel with their mean knowledge scores on gynecological cancer prevention. Conclusion: Health promotion and gynecological cancer prevention might be possible by imposing HLB to the university students. It is suggested that the knowledge levels of students on HLB and gynecological cancer prevention should be identified and that they should be both trained and consulted within this framework.