THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CANCER INFORMATION OVERLOAD AND ATTITUDES FOR CANCER SCREENING IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD SURGICAL PROCEDURE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relationship between cancer information overload and attitudes toward cancer screening in elderly patients who underwent surgery. A total of 123 geriatric individuals participated in the cross-sectional study. The mean age of the participants in the study was 70.63±5.81. It was determined that 17.1% of the individuals had cancer, 30.9% had cancer in their first degree relatives, 52% had cancer screening before, and the most common screenings were colonoscopy (23.6%), pap smear (14.6%), and breast self-examination (8.1%). It was determined that the total score averages of the attitude scale for cancer screening of those who obtained information about cancer from the internet/media were significantly lower (p=0.030). It was determined that there was a significant moderate negative correlation between cancer information overload and the total scores of the attitude scale for cancer screening (r=-0.303, p=0.001). To encourage screening in the geriatric population and to prevent the risks of unnecessary screening, arrangements should be made to facilitate access to accurate information.