Evaluation of the Self-Care Program for the Health of Middle-Aged Women (Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer): Findings From a Six-Month Follow-Up; [ارزشیابی برنامه خودمراقبتی سلامت زنان میانسال)سرطان پستان و سرطان دهانه رحم(؛ شش ماه پس از مداخله] Publisher



Maftoon F ; Moghari F N ; Allameh M R ; Aeenparast A ; Mohammad K ; Farahani A ; Rasooli F
Source: Payesh Published:2026

Abstract

Objective (s): Breast and cervical cancers are important global health challenges in the world. Between 30 to 50 percent of cancers could be prevented through avoiding risk factors. Thus, self-assessment and self-care have effective role in this way. The objective of this study was evaluating the self-assessment and self-care program for middle-aged women in ministry of health regarding breast and cervical cancer. Methods: This study was a pre-post interventional study. The study population was the middle-aged women (30 – 59 years old) who were covered by medical science universities. They were divided randomly in 2 groups as case and control ones, and their self-assessment and self-care condition regarding breast and cervical cancer was assessed. Then only case group received an educational program as intervention and after six months the data were gathered again from case and control groups. Chi 2 and logistic regression were used to define the effect of the educational program on the participants. Results: In this study, 1960 middle-aged women were assessed. About 90% of studied cases were married, most of them had high school level education and also most of them were households. About cervical cancer in case group risk factor assessment'' increased to 83%, knowledge of risk factors increased to 80% and both were improved compared to control group(p<0.05). About breast cancer in case group risk factor assessment'' increased to 95%, knowledge of risk factors increased to 83% and both were improved compared to control group(p<0.05). Also regression analysis showed that education, intervention program, receiving middle age services and being a health ambassador were effective in improving indexes in both cervical and breast cancers. In addition to these factors in cervical cancer, being married is another effective factor. Conclusions: Although there were some limitations due to Covid 19 pandemic, the results show the intervention was effective. And the continuous implementation of this health program could play an important role in improving self-care and self-assessment and consequently in preventing and early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer. Also, the awareness of risk factors in women's cancers needs to be improved yet. On the other hand, for assessing long term indexes, continuous studies are recommended. © 2026, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research. All rights reserved.