Turkish Social Attitudes towards to Cancer Prevention: a Health Belief Model Study

This research was planned to reveal society’s attitude towards cancer and early diagnosis using the healthbelief model. This study was planned as descriptive research in Isparta. A random sample of n=256 individualsof both genders was recruited at the largest shopping center. As a means of collection tool, a survey consisted oftwo forms, the first designed for sociodemographic information and the second covering 29 questions suitablefor the content of Health Belief Model. Of the participants, 66.8% were female and 33.2% were male, and theaverage age was 33.3±11.0 years. Some 46.1% partly thought that they may develop cancer, and 49.6% wereafraid of this possibility. As many as 50% indicated that cancer is an issue that comes from Allah. A significantdifference was found between not going for control unless feeling bad, and blood analysis for cancer screening(χ2=3.780 p= 0.03). It was seen that in an area with a high rate of cancer, people’s awareness of cancer preventionand early diagnosis and attitudes towards these are insufficient.