The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of cancer prevention and early detection education on cancer-related knowledge, attitudes, and preventive health behavior of middle-aged women in Korea. The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The subjects of this study were 38 middle-aged women from a church in Taegu. An Experimental group of 19 and a control group of 19 women were studied. The study was conducted from September 21, 2000 to October 27, 2000. The cancer prevention and early detection education had been provided to the experimental group for 2 weeks. The contents of the education program for the third most prevalent cancer of Korean women were: 'the risk factors of cancer', 'the early symptoms of cancer', 'the diagnostic test for cancer detection', and 'the cancer prevention methods'. The instruments used for this study were modified, cancer-related knowledge, and attitude, preventive health behavior tools of Suh et al.(1998). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, X2-test, t-test, ANCOVA with SPSS WIN 9.0/PC. The results were as follows: 1) Hypothesis 1 that the women who get cancer prevention and early detection education will have higher scores of the cancer-related knowledge than the women do not get cancer prevention and early detection education was accepted(F=4.732, p=.037). 2) Hypothesis 2 that the women who get cancer prevention and early detection education will have higher scores of cancer-related attitudes than the women do not get cancer prevention and early detection education was rejected(F=.118, p=.733). 3) Hypothesis 3 that the women who get cancer prevention and early detection education will have higher scores of cancer-related preventive health behavior than the women who do not get cancer prevention and early detection education was rejected(F=2.250, p=.143). On the basis of the above findings, the following recommendations are suggested: 1)It is necessary to identify the variables affected on cancer-related knowledge, attitudes and preventive health behavior. 2) It is necessary to develop a well organized cancer prevention and early detection education program to change cancer-related attitude and preventive health behavior.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to a quire the supplemental information needed by the general public.
MATERIALS AND METHOD: Subjects of the study, totalling 1576, were from the three major cities of Taegu, Kwang-joo, Pusan and their surrounding districts. The subjects recruited were between the ages of study were developed by these researchers based on literature review and professional experience. The data were analysed by computing frequencies, percentages and testing ANCOVA in SAS program. RESULTS It was noted that the knowledge level of cancer prevention and early detection for the most common cancers in Korea(stomach, lung, liver, cervical, and breast cancer) was low. Knowledge that the subjects had was correct or extremely limited. Subjects had a positive attitude about engaging in cancer prevention and early detection. They were motivated to earn more about it once they recognized cancer as being a fatal disease. Another finding is that is would be necessary to encourage an improvement in subject health habits. the percentage of subjects who had screening tests for cancer was very low. Regular screening test's rate for the five major cancers were very rare. The majority of subjects had not undergone any diagnostic tests. CONCLUSION the results of this survey could be used as a framework for the developmental strategies of an educational program for the general population. The response of subjects was favorable, as they were willing to take preventative action independently.