Effects of Peer-Supported Health Education on Knowledge, Attitude and Screening for Cervical Cancer in Women: A Mixed Method Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Detection of cervical cancer at an early stage significantly increases treatment success rates and the quality of life of individuals. Women's knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about cancer are very important in the prevention of cervical cancer. It has been found that the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased in most societies with high levels of awareness about cancer screening. In addition to medical interventions, psychosocial support and education programs are of great importance in the fight against cancer. Peer support helps individuals going through the same disease process to exchange information and emotional support by sharing their experiences with each other. Peer support groups can influence participants' attitudes towards health behaviors by reducing their fear and anxiety about cancer. For women diagnosed with cervical cancer, peer support can facilitate access to accurate information about cancer and help eliminate wrong health behaviors. In this process, women can better understand the importance of participating in screening programs and improve their attitudes towards early diagnosis and preventive health behaviors. In addition, peer-supported information provides more permanent learning in individuals due to the transfer of knowledge based on similar experiences and the creation of more trust and empathy compared to traditional education methods. The effectiveness of education programs increases significantly when they are designed in accordance with the needs and cultural characteristics of the participants. Peer-supported education programs for women diagnosed with cervical cancer not only provide theoretical knowledge but also support the applicability of this knowledge in daily life. The trainings address topics such as risk factors of cervical cancer, the importance of HPV vaccination, the necessity of regular screening tests and healthy lifestyle behaviors, including attitudes towards cervical cancer prevention and cancer-related information. It is very important that this information is not limited to individual learning and that it is discussed within the group and supported by experiences through peer support, in order to increase the level of knowledge. It is important for the effectiveness of the trainings that the individuals providing peer support have sufficient health knowledge about cancer prevention, understand women's health needs and sociocultural norms, speak the same language as women, and are willing to serve as peer supporters. Women who receive peer support share their experiences with screening tests and help other participants learn more about these tests. This increases individuals' trust in health services and encourages them to engage in preventive behaviors.