Did Individuals' Fear of COVID-19 Affect Their Participation in Cancer Screenings? An Example from Eastern Turkey

Bal S., Yalçlnöz Baysal H.

DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS, cilt.19, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Kısa Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 19
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1017/dmp.2025.130
  • Dergi Adı: DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, PASCAL, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: cancer screening, fear of COVID-19, healthcare avoidance, preventive health behavior, public health preparedness
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This letter presents key findings from a study conducted in Eastern Turkey, which explored the impact of individuals' fear of COVID-19 on their participation in cancer screenings. Data from 393 participants aged 50-70 years revealed that higher levels of COVID-19 fear significantly decreased the likelihood of engaging in screening behaviors during the pandemic. The study highlights that fear of infection led to health care avoidance, posing a barrier to early cancer detection. These findings underscore the importance of addressing psychological factors such as fear during public health emergencies to ensure continued access to preventive care.