Abstract

It was the purpose of this survey to find out the awareness of a selected group of Seventh-day Adventist women regarding the importance of cervical smear examinations in cancer detection; and to identify the need for health teaching in the prevention and control of uterine cervical cancer among women of this group. The 1715 women attending meetings at the General Conference Session in San Francisco July of 1962, who completed questionnaires were considered to be the participants in this study.

A review of literature revealed that through the use of yearly exfoliative cytology examinations, the approximately 14,000 annual deaths from uterine cervical cancer could be prevented. In a related study, by Rezinkoff, that was concerned with determining what kinds of people attend a detection center, he concluded that cancer among close relatives, a history of serious illness, and emotional difficulties as manifest in marked body involvement and apprehension were very prevalent factors in the group studied.

Responses to the questionnaires were analyzed according to the following categories: (1) responses by regions, (2) responses by age groups, (3) responses by occupational groups, (4) responses by educational preparation. and (5) responses by marital status groups.

Major findings of the study revealed that almost an equal number indicated they were having the test at the Conference as were not. In all categories, there were three main reasons indicated for having the test at the Conferences (1) because wish to know results, (2) because of reading current literature advising a check, and (3) because of convenience. Three main reasons were indicated for not having the test at the Conference: (1) had had the test before (the majority being within the last year), (2) had had a hysterectomy (the majority being from the “married" group), and (3) would not be at the Conference when the test would be offered. Of the 1715 participants, more than one third indicated they were not having yearly pelvics. In all categories the main reasons for not having a yearly pelvic were: (1) did not feel the need for such, (2) had had a hysterectomy, and (3) did not have a personal physician. Seventy-eight per cent of the respondents indicated that health teaching regarding uterine cervical cancer should be done by their home conference or church. Their main reasons for indicating such were: (1) to educate as to the importance of a yearly check, (2) to prevent serious results and save life, and (3) because Seventh-day Adventists should be health conscious. church. The majority of women indicated they had seen some type of cancer film.

On the basis of the findings of this study the hypothesis was accepted. The hypothesis, restated, was: Seventh-day Adventist women do not feel a sense of urgency regarding the importance of having Papanicolaou smear examinations for the detection of uterine cervical cancer and do not avail themselves of such examinations; therefore do need further health education.

LLU Discipline

Nursing

Department

Nursing

School

Graduate Studies

First Advisor

Matilda Anabelle Mills

Second Advisor

R. Maureen Maxwell

Third Advisor

Robert William Woods

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1963

Date (Title Page)

6-1963

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Cervix Neoplasms -- diagnosis

Type

Thesis

Page Count

x; 121

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS