The effects of women’s insight levels on breast cancer prevention behaviors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to determine the effect of women’s insight levels on their breast cancer prevention behaviors in primary health care services. A systematic sampling method was used to select a sample of 393 women in a province in Turkey. Socio-demographic Characteristics Form, Insight Scale and Scale for Determining Factors Affecting Women’s Breast Cancer Prevention Behaviour were used as data collection tools. Data were collected face-to-face and then analyzed statistically using Student’s t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Tukey HSD, Spearman correlation test and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that those who felt “healthy” had significantly higher mean breast cancer prevention behavior (p < .05). It was determined that there was a weak positive correlation between the level of insight and breast cancer prevention behaviors, and the increase in the level of insight had a significant positive effect of 0.37 ± 0.051 points on breast cancer prevention behaviors. It was found that there was a significant negative effect on prevention behaviors with 1.66 ± 0.796 points in those with a high education level and 1.58 ± 0.505 points in those with suspected disease. In conclusion, in this study, it was determined that insight level, education level, and awareness of early diagnosis affected the prevention behaviors of breast cancer.