The level of knowledge and health behaviours in the field of breast cancer and cervival cancer on the example of employees from PPH Emix and nurses from SP ZOZ in Rypin

Introduction
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Poland. It takes first place in the ranking of diseases. Each year over 16,000 of women find out that they have breast cancer, of which more than 5,000 die. Third in the world incidence of cancer among women is cervical carcinoma. One of the most important elements of early detection of cancer might be raising awareness, knowledge of healthy behaviours and increasing knowledge of breast cancer and cervical carcinoma. Women should be also encouraged to act in the fight against cancer.

Aim of the study
Comparing the level of knowledge and health behaviours in terms of breast cancer and cervical carcinoma among women working in the company “Emix” and among nurses working in SP ZOZ in Rypin.

Material and methods
Survey was conducted among workwomen from “Emix” company and among nurses from SP ZOZ Rypin. The total number of respondents to the questionnaire lofty was 80, of which each group accounted for 50%. The study was based on diagnostic survey method. The respondents filled out the survey. A tool through which carried out the study was a questionnaire of own design.

Results
Women say that regular prevention, adequate nutrition and avoidance of stimulants the most determines good health. They also have excellent knowledge of the frequency of doing breast self-examination, and half of them know in which the menstrual cycle control breast. Respondents do not do cytology tests due to lack of symptoms, lack of knowledge about prevention and the fear of diagnosis. For the source of information about prevention they indicated the Internet, TV, radio, newspapers and doctors.

Conclusions
Nurses’ knowledge and health behaviours about both, breast cancer and cervical carcinoma, are determined on an average level. In contrast to nurses, knowledge and health behaviours about breast cancer among workwomen of “Emix” are on low level, and about cervical carcinoma are on an average one. The women found their knowledge about both cancers at the average/good level.