| Περίληψη: | <div> <h3>Background</h3> <p>Provision of written information may improve awareness of cancer symptoms and encourage timely presentation in primary care. This study assessed changes in symptom knowledge, perceived barriers to help-seeking, anxiety and intention to seek help, following exposure to a leaflet to raise awareness of gynaecological cancer symptoms.</p> </div> <div> <h3>Methods</h3> <p>Women (<em>N</em> = 484) completed questionnaires before and after reading the leaflet. The primary outcome was change in anticipated time to help-seeking for 12 symptoms. Changes in symptom knowledge, barriers and anxiety, and their association with prompt help-seeking were evaluated using Wilcoxon signed rank tests and logistic regression analyses.</p> </div> <div> <h3>Results</h3> <p>After reading the leaflet, symptom knowledge increased (<em>p</em> < 0.001), and perceived barriers (<em>p</em> < 0.001) and anxiety (<em>p</em> = 0.008) decreased. The number of symptoms for which women anticipated seeking help promptly increased (<em>p</em> < 0.001). Changes in knowledge (OR 4.21, 95 % CI 1.95-9.13) and perceived barriers (OR 4.60, 95 % CI 1.91-11.04) were independently associated with increased help-seeking.</p> </div> <div> <h3>Conclusion</h3> <p>Increased symptom knowledge and lowered perceived barriers were related to increased prompt anticipated help-seeking. This occurred without an increase in anxiety. This intervention is effective in altering knowledge, beliefs and help-seeking intentions for gynaecological cancer symptoms, at least in the short-term, and should be trialled in primary care.</p> </div>
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