Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Silver Oaks College of Nursing, Mohali, Punjab, India
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, especially in developing
countries. More than one‑fifth of newly diagnosed cervical cancer cases are occurring in India. Cervical
cancer is a highly preventable and curable cancer compared with other types of cancer, if detected
at an early stage. The present study has been carried out to assess whether a community‑based,
multicomponent, nurse‑led intervention program improves cervical cancer screening behavior of
women.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental randomized controlled trial was carried out by
recruiting 419 women in the age group of 30–60 years (246 in the experimental group and 173 in the
control group) residing in a selected rural community (selected tribal settlements) of Idukki district of
Kerala, India, using multistage cluster sampling. The intervention comprising small group education
followed by reinforcement session, telephonic reminders, navigation and guidance for Pap smear,
and follow‑up visit by the investigator was administered to the experimental group, and the control
group did not receive any intervention. Knowledge, attitude, and screening behavior of women related
to prevention of cervical cancer were assessed before and twice after the intervention.
RESULTS: The experimental and control groups were homogenous in all baseline sociodemographic
variables. The community‑based intervention program was effective in improving knowledge(P< 0.001),
attitude (P < 0.001), and screening behavior (P < 0.001) of women regarding the prevention of cervical
cancer. A significant moderate positive correlation was found between knowledge and screening
behavior (r = 0.408). Significant association was found between knowledge, attitude, and practice
regarding prevention of cervical cancer with education, age at the time of marriage, and number of
pregnancies.
CONCLUSION: The community‑based, multicomponent, nurse‑led intervention program was
effective in improving cervical cancer screening behavior among women. Repeated motivation and
reinforcement are needed to bring behavioral change and to increase uptake of screening services
among rural women.
Keywords
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