Healthy lifestyle behaviors and gynecological cancer awareness in women academicians: a descriptive and correlational study

Objective: To determine the healthy lifestyle behaviors (HLBs) and gynecological cancer awareness (GCA) levels of women academicians and to investigate the correlation between HLBs and GCA. Methods: A descriptive correlational study design was used to determine the healthy life behaviors and gynecological cancer awareness levels of women academicians and to investigate the correlation between them. A total of 353 women academicians were included between 1st March 2020 and 1st January 2021. The data were collected using Introductory Form, Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, and Gynecological Cancer Awareness Scale. Results: The women’s healthy life behaviors levels were close to moderate and gynecological cancer awareness levels were high. The median healthy life behaviors score was significantly higher in women who worked as an assistant professor, considered the age of menarche and menopause as risk factors for women cancers, consumed regular snacks, received information about GCs, and had regular pap-smears (p <.05). The median gynecological cancer awareness score was significantly higher in women who worked as an assistant professor, considered the age of menarche and menopause as risk factors for women cancers, received information about GCs, and experienced pregnancy process (p <.05). In addition, as women’s healthy life behaviors levels increased, their gynecological cancer awareness levels also increased. The healthy life behaviors score was positively and moderately associated with the gynecological cancer awareness score (p <.05). Discussion: Our findings highlight the potential to promote monitoring of women’s healthy lifestyle behaviors and gynecological cancer awareness in the community by planning effective interventions.