Evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices about cancer risk factors among health care professionals

Background: Given the importance of health care personnel’s awareness of cancer symptoms, this study aimed to investigate their knowledge regarding cancer warning symptoms, attitudes toward cancer risk factors, and performance on undertaking cancer screening tests. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which 145 health care staff working in the medical centers affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences prticipated in it. The study population included nurses, midwives, operating room technicians, laboratory staff, anesthesiologists and radiologists. Items assessing awareness of cancer warning signs, risk factors, incidence, screening programmes were extracted from the literature. Results: The mean knowledge score of health care staffs was 7.97±2.01. Regarding the staff’s attitude toward the role of risk factors in increasing the likelihood of cancer, the results showed an average attitude score of 35.41±4.69. Concerning the performance of the participants in cancer screening tests, the results showed that out of 125 women aged 25-57 years, only 44% performed monthly self-examinations, 22.1% referred to a specialist physician for breast cancer screening every three years and only 20.51% of the female participants aged over 40 years old performed mammography. In terms of cervical cancer screening in female participants, 27.2% had performed annual Pap smear tests, and 17.6% referred to a specialist for annual pelvic examinations. Regarding colorectal cancer screening in staff older than 45 years, our findings showed that from 24 participants (16.6% of the samples), only one had undertaken occult blood test and performed colonoscopy. Conclusions: Because the public health depends on the wellness of health care professionals and their awareness of cancer warning signs, as well as their knowledge of cancer risk factors and adherence to cancer screening tests, they should be encouraged to perform these examinations.