Background: The Mammograms and Papanicolaou (Pap) test of women aged ۲۵ to ۶۴ years are Iran’s national strategy for breast and cervical cancer screening, respectively. Widespread primary care services are supplied through a network of primary health centers; nonetheless, little is known about breast and cervical cancer screening-related practices among healthcare workers in hospitals.
Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of undergoing breast and cervical cancer screening among Iranian healthcare providers.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۴۶۰ female healthcare providers from four public hospitals in Hamadan were recruited. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which included socio-demographic characteristics, family history of breast and cervical cancers, and history of undergoing mammography and Pap smear test.
Results: The rate of positive family history of breast cancer was ۱۵.۶%. The mean age at undergoing the first mammogram was ۴۰.۷ ± ۳.۹ years and the mean number of lifetime mammographies was ۱.۱۲ ± ۰.۳۳. From ۴۶۰ women in this study, ۴۲.۶% had undergone mammography. Specialist physicians had undergone mammography more frequently than other healthcare providers had done. Only ۷۲ participants (۱۵.۶%) had positive family history of breast cancer among which ۱۵ (۶۲.۵ %) had undergone mammography. The frequency of undergoing mammography was significantly different among different healthcare providers (χ ۲ = ۱۲.۱۶; P = ۰.۰۰۷) and positive family history of breast cancer were significant. A total of ۲۶۸ cases out of ۴۲۰ had the positive history of undergoing Pap test. The mean age at undergoing the first screening was ۲۷.۹ ± ۴.۶ years and the mean number of lifetime Pap test was ۱.۶۴ ± ۰.۹۲. Most of the midwives (۸۸.۱%) had undergone Pap test; the rate was ۷۷.۸% in specialist physicians, ۶۱.۸% in nurses, and ۵۱.۷% in general practitioner. Only ۱۴ out of ۴۲۰ respondents had positive family history of cervical cancer among which ۱۳ (۹۲.۹%) had undergone Pap rest. The frequency of undergoing Pap test was significantly different among different healthcare providers (χ۲ = ۱۲.۱۶, P = ۰.۰۰۷) and positive family history of cervical cancer among those older than ۴۰ years (χ۲ = ۷.۲۴, P = ۰.۰۲) were significant.
Conclusions: Screening for gynecologic cancer is important in early diagnosis and women wellbeing. The acceptance of cancer screening test was low in most of the healthcare providers. The attitude and practice of healthcare provider can affect women’s acceptance of cancer screening test.