Türk Universiteli Kadinlar Dernegi

Effect of Breast Self-Examination and Cervical Cancer Screening Education Programme on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Female Teachers in Adult Education Centres

Breast cancer and cervical cancer are the most common forms of cancer among women.  Diagnosing these cancers as early as possible greatly improves the success of treatment, but current studies in Turkey suggest that breast self-examination (BSE) is low as is the number of women taking Pap Smear Tests (PST).  New approaches to health education are needed to raise awareness among women about the importance of cancer prevention programmes.  

This project assesses the impact of a particular health education programme on female teachers working in adult education centres.  A Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Conference for all female teachers in Izmir was organised by a member of the Turkish Association of University Women (TUKD).  The impact of the conference and subsequent training sessions, group discussions, lectures, demonstrations and self examination  for the 37 participating teachers have been monitored and the results will be analysed.  The project organisers will look at the attitudes and behaviour of the teachers before and after training, and will especially look at the frequency with which the women are performing BSE and applying for mammographies and PST. 

At the end of the awareness programme, the teachers will be expected to take on the role of health messengers, using their newly acquired knowledge to raise awareness about breast and cervical cancer and to explain the importance of early detection (through BSE and PST) to the women they teach in their Adult Education courses.