The Relationship Between Anxiety and Beliefs Towards Breast Self-Examination and Breast Cancer Among Female University Students

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety and beliefs towards breast self- examination (BSE) and breast cancer (BC) among female university students. Method: This descriptive and comperative study was conducted on nursing students (n=534) at a State University in Ankara, Turkey. 1) Questionnaire Form, 2) Champion Health Belief Model Scale, and 3) Beck Anxiety Scale were used to data collection. In data evaluation, frequencies, percentage, mean, standard deviation, the independent t test, the Pearson correlation, and ANOVA were used. Results: The mean age of the students was 21.30 ± 2.0 (min:18, max:40). 58.2% of the students had knowledge of BC, 47% of BSE and only 28.7% perform SBE. The students with knowledge about BSE and BC showed higher motivation and preventive health behaviors (p<0.05). Students who regularly perform BSE had a low perception of barriers, high confidence perception, and high health motivation (p<0.05). As students' health motivation and confidence increased, their anxiety scores decreased (p<0.05). Conclusion: The BSE rate was well below the desired level. It was determined that the female students had some positive health beliefs about BC and this situation has decreased their anxiety levels. It is recommended to consider the barriers in front of students' preventive health behaviors and to plan initiatives to develop sensitivity on this issue.