The relationship between men's health literacy levels and their health beliefs and attitudes towards prostate cancer screening: A case study in a rural area.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between health literacy level and health beliefs and attitudes regarding prostate cancer screening in males aged 40-70 who lived in rural areas and had not been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The sample of the study consisted of 379 men. The data were collected between January and December 2022 using the "Participant Information Form," the "Turkey Health Literacy-32 Scale," and the "Prostate Cancer Screening Health Belief Model Scale." 58% of the participants are between the ages of 40-55. It was determined that 61.2% defined cancer as a fatal disease, only 14.2% had PSA in their blood and 21.6% had DRE. The average health literacy scale total score of the participants is 33.76 ± 11.55. The health literacy level of men was found to be limited in 14.8%. There was a negative relationship between the total scores of the health literacy scale and the susceptibility perception, seriousness perception, and barriers perception sub-dimensions of the Health Belief Model Scale of Cancer Screenings and a positive relationship between the total scores of the Health Literacy Scale and health motivation and benefits perception subdimensions (p < .001). As a result, men living in rural areas should be given individual counseling by health professionals to use screening tests for cancer symptoms and early diagnosis. In addition, men's health literacy levels should be increased by providing planned and regular health education in order to create positive attitudes and perceptions regarding cancer screenings, especially prostate cancer.