Psychoeducational intervention for the promotion of breast cancer screening methods and a healthy lifestyle in university students

Abstract

ABSTRACT Psychoeducational interventions for breast cancer are necessary for all age groups, but especially so for young people, to allow for early intervention. It is important that these interventions, in addition to promoting screening methods, also provide strategies to avoid modifiable risk factors for breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a psychoeducational intervention on beliefs about cancer, breast self-exams, and a healthy lifestyle. A randomized clinical trial was used, in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials. Fifty- six university students participated and were randomly assigned to either the psychoeducational intervention condition, which involved three 90-minute sessions every two weeks, or to the control group, which did not receive any interventions. Both groups were evaluated before and after the intervention using the scales of the health belief model and the health-promoting lifestyle profile. The results show significant differences, with a large effect size found for perceived severity (z = −2.35; p < .01, d = 0.90) and self-efficacy (z =-4.46; p < .001, d = 2.06). A correlation was also found between belonging to the intervention group and practicing breast self-exams [χ2(1) = 9.45; p = 0.002]. The psychoeducational intervention affected perceived severity, perceived self-efficacy and the practice of breast self-examination. This indicates that it can be used to promote breast cancer screening methods among female university students.