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http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.2.1031

Knowledge of Turkish Mothers with Children in the 0-13 Age Group about Cancer Symptoms  

Demirbag, Birsel Canan (Department of Public Health, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University)
Kurtuncu, Meltem (Department of Pediatric Nursing, Zonguldak School of Nursing, Bulent Ecevit University)
Guven, Hadiye (Family Health Physician, Eastern Black Sea Region Family Health Center)
Publication Information
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention / v.14, no.2, 2013 , pp. 1031-1035 More about this Journal
Abstract
Background: There have been few studies in Turkey on the incidence of childhood cancers. A mother's knowledge about signs and symptoms of cancer is important for early diagnosis, effective treatment, and improvement of life expectancy. This study was conducted with a group of mothers of children, aged 0-13, at a Family Health Center (FHC) in Turkey's Eastern Black Sea Region, to analyze their knowledge about cancer symptoms in childhood. Materials and Methods: The study group of this descriptive/cross-sectional research comprised 2,061 mothers, ages 19-49, at an FHC in the Eastern Black Sea Region in February 1, 2011 - June 1, 2011. Before the study, permission was obtained from the local ethics board and the institutions concerned. A value of p<0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results: Of the mothers, 34.9% were between the ages of 40-47, 40.5% had three children, 73.8% had no experience with children with cancer, 45.9% said they learned about cancer on television, 39.7% stated that the primary reason for childhood cancer was the mother's smoking during pregnancy, 68.8% said that early diagnosis would save a child, and 98% wanted to learn about childhood cancer. Conclusion: It was determined that the mothers' knowledge of cancer was deficient.
Keywords
Cancer symptoms; children; knowledge; mother;
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