Health literacy, mammogram awareness and screening among tertiary hospital women patients

Abstract

In spite of high mortality rates and prevalence, breast cancer awareness and screening is low among Turkish women. This study aimed to determine level of health literacy, mammogram awareness, and screening among tertiary hospital women patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 519 patients aged between 40 and 69. A questionnaire was applied to women patients including demographic characteristics, health behaviors, mammogram awareness and screening, and health literacy tool. Mammogram awareness and screening were questioned according to the Turkish Breast Cancer Screening Standard. To assess health literacy level, the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine was used. Over half of the women were aware of the mammogram age and 23.1 % had a mammogram within 2 years. Limited health literacy was high among patients, and it was significantly associated with lower mammogram awareness (OR 6.53; 95% CL 1.46–9.13) and screening (OR 1.12; 95% CL 0.45–2.80). Health literacy can be an advantageous opportunity on focal point of national cancer screening. Breast cancer education program and public health campaigns should be arranged according to women health literacy level. © 2016, American Association for Cancer Education.