• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.135-152
• /
• 2002

Objectives: Cancer is the most frequent cause of death in Korea. Cancer screenings can save lives through early detection and their effect can be enhanced by regular repeat adherence rather than one-time screening. The aim of this study was to investigate major cancer screening rates and the reasons for not having screening for providing the basic data required. Materials and Methods: The study sample were recruited from the parents of students in 3 different middle and high schools in Pusan. 428 participants(l93 of males, 214 of females) completed a structured self-administered questionnaire from Dec. 21 to 31, 2001 and the response rate was 73.8%. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics with SPSS Win 10.0. Results: The cancer screening rates of the subjects(male and female respectively) who have had one or more in their life-time were about 36.3% and 34.6% in gastroendoscopy for stomach cancer, about 11.1 % and 8.5% in stool hemocult test and colonoscopy for colon cancer, 13.5% and 9.3% in prostate-antigen test and rectal digit exam for prostate cancer, 36.4% in mammograpy for breast cancer, and 59.3% in Pap smear test for cervical cancer. And the higher proportions of having regular screening were 36.0% in Pap smear test for cervical cancer and 11.7% in mammograpy for breast cancer. The reasons related to not having screening tests were found that ‘seem to be healthy’ was 44.8%∼58.9% and the most common reason and the following was ‘not having opportunity for check-up’. The most common reason related to not having regular screening tests were ‘for the finding of previous check-up was normal’.