Cervical cancer is a devasting disease for women around the world and is the leading cause of female cancer deaths in developing countries. Globally,it is the second most common cancer among women. Cancer prevalence in India is estimated to be around 2.5 milion with over 8,00,000 new cases and 5,50,000 deaths occurring each year due to the disease. A report of WHO (1996) has determined that an inadequate knowledge and negative attitude towards screening are thought to be the major factors of cervix cancer among health professionals. In this regard the study was conducted to assess the knowledge of staff nurses regarding cervical cancer and its prevention at Primary care, Amritsar. Quantitative approach was selected, research design was non-experimental with descriptive survey, sample was 30 staff nurses available at time of data collection at morning and evening shift at Primary care hospital, Amritsar. Data was collected using cervical cancer knowledge questionnaire. Results shows 27% nurses having moderate knowledge and 73 % nurses having adequate knowledge .Socio-demographic variables are found to be non-significant with the knowledge of staff nurses at p>0.05. An informational booklet was also distributed among the staff nurses to make them aware regarding the different aspects of disease. It was thus concluded to conduct such studies on wider sample so that more and more nurses become aware of the cervical cancer and its prevention.

Keywords: cervical cancer, staff nurses, cervical cancer knowledge questionnaire

1. To assess the knowledge of staff nurses regarding cervical cancer and its prevention.
2. To develop and implement tool regarding cervical cancer.
3. To analyze the data using statistical measures.

Globally, one out of every five women is suffering from the diseases belongs to India. It is estimated that there were 112,609 new cervical cancer in 2006 and this number is expected to rise to 136,86 in year 2016.cervical cancer ranks as the most frequent cancer among women between 18 to 44 years. A study conducted by new England journal of medicine reveals that about 1.3 lakh new cases of cervical cancer are reported every year.” Ever educated class are not aware of cervical cancer and after link it with the neck.¹ The cervix is the lower third part of the uterus ,it serves as a neck to connect the uterus to the vagina. Carcinoma of the cervix is predominantly squamous cell cancer.² There are number of reasons that are responsible for the development of cervical cancer. These factors include dietary factor, multiple pregnancies, sexual relations before the age of 18, hormonal drug like diethylstilbestrol. Symptoms are bleeding in between menstrual period, bleeding after sexual intercourse, unusual vaginal discharge, bleeding after menopause.³ Nurses working in primary health-care settings are often the first to identify and manage suspected cervical cancer cases; so there is need for staff nurses to know every aspect of the disease so that it helps to manage the further complications related to the cervical cancer and helps to empower women population in the reproductive age with knowledge about cervical cancer, its early warning signs and preventive measures.^4,5

In present research study, knowledge of staff nurses regarding Cervical cancer was assessed through “Cervical cancer knowledge questionnaire for staff nurses” and information booklet was distributed among 30 staff nurses working at Primary care Hospital, Amritsar, Punjab. Research Approach used was Quantitative approach. Research design selected was Non-experimental with Descriptive survey. Sampling Technique was Convenient sampling. Nurses working at morning and evening shift were included and Staff nurses working at night shift were excluded from the study. The tool consists of: Part A: Socio-economic demographic profile including age (in years), marital status professional education, current area of posting, professional experience (in years), h, mass- media exposure regarding cervical cancer. Part B: Cervical Cancer knowledge questionnaire for staff nurses consisting of 22 questions. For each correct answer, one mark was given and for each incorrect response, zero mark was awarded. To begin with analysis, the data was entered in a master sheet, for tabulation and statistical processing. In order to find the relationship the data was tabulated, analyzed and interpreted by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 10.0 of Microsoft Windows. Informational booklet on cervical cancer was then distributed among staff nurses to enhance their knowledge.

Criteria for evaluation was as following

Maximum and Minimum obtainable score was 22 and zero respectively.

Table 1 shows that maximum number of the subjects (63.33%) were belonging to the age group of <30, 26.66% belong to age group of 30–40 years and least number of subjects 0 were in 41-50 years. Staff nurses with ANM as educational standard were 3.33%, GNM (N) were 80% Bsc (N) were 10% and rest 7% were P.B.Bsc. More than half of the subjects had experience of 1-5 years (73%), 13.33% of the staff nurses had experience of 6-10 years, 10% of subjects had experience of >10%, 3.33% had experience of (<1%), years only. Nearly half of the staff members got information regarding cervical cancer from television followed by magazine 20% and more than half of the staff nurses 80% were exposed to other type of mass media for having information regarding cervical cancer. Table 2 & Figure 1 shows that 27% of staff nurses having knowledge moderate and 73% were having adequate knowledge Figure. Table 3 shows Level of knowledge of staff nurses were having no association with socio-demographic characteristics. Socio-demographic variables were found to be non-significant with p>0.05.

Figure 1 Level of Knowledge of staff nurses regarding cervical cancer.

In present research study, knowledge of staff nurses regarding cervical cancer was assessed through knowledge questionnaire for staff nurses and information booklet was distributed among the staff nurses working at Primary care hospital, Amritsar, Punjab. A descriptive survey design was used to assess the knowledge of 30 samples (staff nurses) regarding cervical cancer. The finding of the study are discussed under the following headings.

Socio-demographic characteristics: Maximum number of the subject (63%) belong to the age group of 25-30 years. Staff nurses with G.N.M as professional were (80%). More than half of the subject had professional experience of 1-5 years (73%). Staff nurses exposure to the mass media regarding cervical cancer were (80%). A descriptive study was conducted on knowledge of cervical cancer and its prevention in Gynae OPD at Lumbini Zonal Hospital Butwal. Major finding drawn from this study show that most of the respondent 45(90%) had heard of cervical cancer screening. Most of the respondent 35(77.77%) had answer cervical cancer can be early detected. Main sources of information regarding cervical cancer had been relative /friends and media.⁶

Level of knowledge of staff nurses regarding cervical cancer: The present study confirms that overall knowledge score of 73% of staff nurses this shows there was adequate knowledge among the staff nurses regarding cervical cancer. Similar study was conducted by Nganwai P regarding knowledge regarding attitudes and practices on cervical cancer among registered nurses at the faculty of Medicine, Khon kaen University, Thailand. Systematic sampling was used and self administered questionnaires were sent. Out of 149 registered nurses 133(89,3%) of whom responded .The respondent's averaged 34.6years of age while 54.6% had sexual partners and 61.4% had normal deliveries .About 66.2% would like to have prophylactic HPV vaccines because they thought that it would prevent HPV infection Almost all the registered nurses have a moderate level of knowledge regarding cervical cancer and HPV but there are still some major misunderstandings. Thus educational booklet, notices and hospital announcements would be useful in increasing their knowledge.⁷ Another study by Haribarran V, to assess the knowledge and practice regarding cervical cancer among 100 married women between the ages 20-60 years at indore using at purposive sampling. The finding revealed that all of the subjects 100(100%) had no knowledge regarding early diagnosis and prevention of cervical cancer, (14%) of them are at moderate risk for developing cervical cancer. Nurses should also be trained through in service education to spread the health awareness to the individuals and families.⁸ ALISF conducted a cross sectional, interview based survey in there major teaching hostpital in karanchi regarding knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer among 400 females interns. Convenience sampling was applied using questionarries, method of all the interview conducted 1.8% did not know cervical cancer as a diseases 23.3% of the respondents were aware that cervical cancer is the most common cause of cancer, only 26% of the study population was aware that cervical cancer, only 26% of the study population was aware of one or more risk factors.⁹

Association of level of knowledge with socio-demographic characteristics of staff nurses regarding cervical cancer: In the present research study, it was concluded that socio-demographic variables have no significant association with level of knowledge among staff nurses regarding cervical cancer. T.Mytyaba (2006) conducted a study about the knowledge, attitude and practices 93% considered cancer screening among women 93% considered cancer of the cervical of the cervix a public health problem and knowledge about pap smear was 83% among respondents. Less than 40% knew risk factors for cervical cancer eligibility for and screening interval of the female respondents 65% did not feed susceptible to cervical cancer and 81% had never been screened of the male respondent only 26%had partners who had ever been screened. Socio-demographic variables were found to be non –significant with the level of staff nurses.

It was concluded that Knowledge level of staff nurses regarding cervical cancer was adequate but there is no significant association of socio-demographic variables with level of knowledge of staff nurses regarding cervival cancer.

I appreciate and will never forget the determination, dedication, interest, hard-work and strength bestowed by our students and respondents.

Study was carried out at our own expenses.

The author declares there are no conflicts of interest.

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