Investigation of Women's Knowledge and Beliefs About Cervical Cancer and Cervical Smear Examination: A Survey Study in Greece

Aim This study aimed to investigate women's knowledge and beliefs about cervical cancer and cervical smear examinations. Methodology The research was conducted at a health center in Greece from May 15, 2023, to August 15, 2023. The study sample consisted of 160 women aged 21-65 years who attended the health center. The data were collected by using a questionnaire. The first part of the questionnaire was based on the Cervical Cancer Awareness and Symptoms Initiative (CCASI) questionnaire, while the second part used the Health Belief Model questionnaire for cervical cancer and the Champion Pap Test. Results A total of 157 participants (98.1%) reported having a Pap test at some point in their lives, and 18 (11.25%) of them had a pathological result. Many women had better knowledge about the factors that increase the risk of cervical cancer. Most participants (118, 73.8%) knew that there was a cervical cancer control program in Greece and 150 (93.8%) were aware of the HPV vaccine. Age and education were independently associated with awareness of the cervical cancer screening program in Greece. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate a positive attitude of women toward cervical cancer prevention. The level of knowledge about cervical cancer and the Papanicolaou test among the women who visited the health center was sufficient; however, there were several areas where they lacked knowledge about symptoms and risk factors. The study underlines the importance of implementing preventive measures among women for the effective fight against cervical cancer.