Influence of Risk Perception and Physician Recommendations on the Adoption of Examinations for Early Detection of Breast, Cervical, Oral and Colon Cancers in Rural Thiruvananthapuram

Abstract

Early cancer detection is crucial in reducing mortality rates, especially in rural areas with limited healthcare access. This cross-sectional study investigates how risk perception and physician recommendations influence the adoption of screening practices for breast, cervical, oral, and colon cancers among 160 women aged 30-65 years in rural Thiruvananthapuram. The findings show that a significant proportion of participants perceived their cancer risk as low, which correlates with lower screening rates. Physician recommendations played a key role in motivating patients to undergo screening, but many did not receive such advice. This highlights the need for enhanced communication between healthcare providers and patients to improve risk awareness and increase cancer screening uptake.