Self efficacy as a key mediator for cervical cancer screening behavior

Screening is one of the most effective techniques to prevent cervical cancer. Self-efficacy may play a mediating role in health behaviors such as cervical cancer screening behavior. This study aimed to determine self-Efficacy as a key mediator for cervical cancer screening behavior. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 310 women aged 20-60 referred to medical centers in Isfahan, Iran, in 2020-2021. Six comprehensive health centers and one women's clinic in teaching hospitals in Isfahan were randomly selected through drawing. Women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study through convenience sampling. The data collection tool was questionnaires. A cervical cancer screening self-efficacy scale and researcher-made questionnaires of personal characteristics and fertility, knowledge, attitude, motivation, and cervical cancer screening behavior were used. In order to determine the mediating effect, PROCESS macro version 4 software for SPSS version 22 was used. The results showed that the indirect effect of knowledge (P.E = 0.301, CI: 0.225 to 0.441), attitude (P.E = 0.313, CI: 0.228 to 0.441), motivation (P.E = 0.242, CI: 0.17 to 0.31), and cervical cancer screening behavior were significantly correlated with self-efficacy mediation and the direct effect of motivation on cervical cancer screening behavior was significant (P < 0.001). Therefore, women's cervical cancer screening behavior could improve by designing and implementing interventions based on increasing self-efficacy.