A study on obese patients' participation in cancer screening programs: an example from Turkey

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Obesity is a significant risk factor for various cancers.
• Obese individuals exhibit lower participation rates in cancer screenings.
• Understanding attitudes towards cancer screening in obese populations is crucial for early detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare cancer screening attitudes among obese patients.
• To identify factors influencing cancer screening participation in obese individuals.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 185 obese patients from an obesity center (OC) and 191 from a family medicine clinic.
• Initial assessment of cancer screening history followed by targeted training.
• Re-evaluation of attitudes towards cancer screening after a 3-month follow-up period.

Main Results:

• Obesity center patients demonstrated higher cancer screening awareness and compliance compared to family medicine clinic patients.
• Being female, receiving care at an OC, and living in an urban area were positively correlated with cancer screening participation.
• Targeted interventions and specialized care settings appear to enhance screening behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Managing obese patients in specialized, goal-oriented facilities like obesity centers (OC) improves outcomes for obesity and associated health issues.
• Specialized care models can enhance cancer screening participation in obese populations.
• Further research should explore scalable interventions for improving cancer screening in diverse obese patient groups.