Interest in complementary-alternative medicine therapies is growing rapidly in Turkey. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine the types and prevalence of alternative therapies used by the patients with a diagnosis of cancer, and to determine factors influencing the choices of their therapies in Erzurum, Turkey. Approximately 10-minute face-to-face interviews were conducted with each subject in the radiation oncology department. The factors associated with the use of alternative therapies after a diagnosis of cancer were assessed by chi-square analysis. The findings indicated that complementary-alternative medicine therapies were used by 41.1% of the subjects after their diagnosis, and that all of the alternatives they used were herbs. The most commonly used herb was stinging nettle leaf (urtica dioica) or seed of nettle. Almost all (93.2%) of the herbs used were nettle. In general, especially the women and the younger patients of both genders were more likely to be using alternative therapies. There was no difference in demographic and cancer characteristics between users of alternative therapy and nonusers. More than the half of the patients using alternative therapies (54.5%) reportedly did not discuss the use of herbs with their healthcare professionals. Most of the patients using stinging nettle and other herbs therapies reported that they had heard about the use of herbs from friends or relatives (52.3%), or from the other patients in this clinic (43.2%). This study found that there is a high prevalence of alternative therapies used by patients with cancer in eastern Turkey. The use of these alternative therapies requires that nursing professionals rethink staff competency, patient assessment, and patient-focused care. Communication between patients and healthcare professionals should initiate dialogues on this topic for a better understanding of patient choices with regard to treatment options.

Instruments using Health Belief Model constructs in breast cancer screening in previous studies were developed and tested by Champion for American women, and since then, these have been revised twice. Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS) has been translated and tested in various studies in other countries and cultures. Also, the current study examined the validity and reliability of the Turkish adaptation of the CHBMS among Turkish women. The instrument was translated using a back-translation technique, which includes the use of a panel of experts and interpreters to translate the items from the source language to the target language and then back-translate them to the source language. The study was conducted in Ordu, a city in north Turkey. A total of 266 Turkish women aged 20 and older working as primary schoolteachers were included in the sample. Analyses included internal consistency, reliability, factor analysis, and known group techniques. After the analysis, 3 items from the Barriers domain, 1 from the Seriousness domain, and 2 from the Motivation domain were deleted from the original scale. So, the final Turkish version of the CHBMS (CHBMS-T) consisted of 36 items that were clustered into 6 subscales: susceptibility (3 items), seriousness (6 items), motivation (5 items), benefits of breast self-examination (BSE) (4 items), barriers to BSE (8 items), and confidence/self-efficacy of BSE (10 items). Internal consistency ranged from 0.69 to 0.83. Construct validity was supported by exploring the factor structure of the instrument using factor analysis and testing known-group techniques. Psychometric testing demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and validity of the instrument for this group of women. It can be used in planning and testing interventions to improve BSE beliefs and practice.

The primary site of cancer in Turkish women is breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer is increasing in Turkey. The aim of the research was to educate women 40 years and older to increase their awareness on early detection and diagnosis, to facilitate the use of the early diagnosis methods, to improve the women's beliefs in relation breast cancer, and to increase the use of Cancer Early Diagnosis and Screening Centers available in the city. The target population of the research was 5000 women. Forty selected women were educated as peer educators. Twenty-five of them were selected as principal peer educator. Each peer educator was expected to educate 200 women. Peer trainers educated their peer and also arranged for the mammography appointment of the women who decided to have theirs taken. Data were obtained before and after the training by Champion's Health Belief Model Scale, questionnaire forms, and Cancer Early Diagnosis and Screening Centers data for mammography practice. Breast cancer was detected in 8 women. Statistical analyses showed positive changes in women's health beliefs and breast self-examination knowledge. There were 20.4% of women (n = 1040) who did get mammograms, and 8% (n = 8) of women were found to have cancer in all of those screened. Peer education was found to be effective for increasing the knowledge, beliefs, and practice of women related to breast cancer. Peers can reinforce learning through ongoing contact. Peer education can be used to improve early diagnosis of breast cancer and breast cancer awareness in asymptomatic women.