Abstract
BACKGROUND: Excessive fear of cancer can be more harmful than the disease itself. Although it is important to address and evaluate this fear, there is a lack of studies providing intervention strategies to effectively reduce cancer-related anxiety. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate how health beliefs about cervical cancer and the Pap Smear test influence cancer fear among women participating in a cervical cancer screening program. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Data were gathered from 210 women who visited a healthy life center for cervical cancer screening. The data collection tools included a personal form, The Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and the Pap Smear Test, and the Cancer Worry Scale. Statistical analyses, such as T-tests, ANOVA, and hierarchical linear multiple regression, were conducted using the IBM SPSS software version 23.0. FINDINGS: The regression model assessing the impact of the benefits of pap smear tests on cancer worry was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, when barriers to the pap smear test were added, there was a statistically significant change in R(2) by 0.031 (p = 0.012), and including the perceived seriousness of cervical cancer further increased the R(2) value by 0.126, which was statistically significant (p = 0.000). Adding susceptibility to cervical cancer and health motivation individually to the model did not lead to a statistically significant change in R(2) (p = 0.060, p = 0.655, respectively). The final model, which included all concepts from The Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and the Pap Smear Test, accounted for 15.6% of the variance in cancer worry based on independent variables. Additionally, employed women (t = - 2.461, p = 0.015) and nuclear families (t = - 2.554, p = 0.011) had significantly lower cancer anxiety scores. CONCLUSION: The study indicated that perceived severity and barriers might heighten fear of cancer. These perceptions could be influenced by social environment, media, and language issues related to the meanings of "cancer". Therefore, oncological care should incorporate culturally sensitive approaches to assess and reduce fear of cancer. Collaboration with public health managers is necessary to develop campaigns that address this issue without inciting fear.