Performance Of Breast Self-examination Research Articles

Factors Affecting Periodic Screening Behaviors for Breast Cancer among Hospital Nurses.

The purpose of this study was to analyze periodic screening behaviors for breast cancer and factors affecting the screening behaviors among hospital nurses. A total of 461 nurses were recruited from 15 hospitals located in two southern areas of Korea. The Champion's Health Beliefs Model Scale-Korean version and a structured study questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were collected during July and August 2008. Nurses who performed periodic mammography accounted for 15.6% of the total, while 22.8% performed periodic breast self-examination (BSE). Among married nurses, the rates of periodic mammography and BSE were significantly different by age, menopausal status, delivery experience, family history of breast cancer, and experiences of cervical cancer screening. Significant factors affecting periodic mammography were family history of breast cancer, experiences of cervical cancer screening, age above 40, and performance of periodic BSE. For health beliefs, levels of severity, confidentiality and barrier were significant factors for periodic BSE. Nurses, who are role models for health promoting behaviors, did not adequately performing periodic BSE and mammography. A health promotion program for breast cancer designed for hospital nurses is needed to improve performance rates for periodic screening behaviors for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Knowledge And Screening Practices Among Nigerian Medical Students

Background. Late presentation of patients at advanced stages of disease forms the hallmark of breast cancer in Nigerian women. The peak age of breast cancer presentation among Nigerian women is about 10-15years earlier than what is observed in Caucasian women, where it occurs between the ages of 35-45 years. This study assessed breast cancer knowledge and behavior in terms of screening practices among introductory clinical medical students in Delta State. Nigeria. Materials and Method. The data consisted of selected and constructed response items on a questionnaire which was administered to all introductory clinical (medical) students 18 years and older. Participation in this study was voluntary. The instrument consisted of multiple choice questions that measured variables such as general breast cancer knowledge, risk factors, symptoms, barriers, use of breast cancer screening tests, screening practices, and demographic characteristics. Results. A total of 18 questionnaires were distributed to introductory clinical (medical) students age 18 years and above at the Delta State University in Warri, Nigeria. The response rate was 100%. Age range of respondents was 21-26 years. The overall knowledge of breast cancer was 89.1% while knowledge of the risk factors for breast cancer development was 62.7%. Knowledge of breast cancer symptoms was 67.8%. There were no barriers to breast screening exercises. All the participants admitted performing breast self examination regularly but 22.2% did not know how often breast examination should be done. Three participants (16.7%) have never been told about breast cancer screening by a nurse or physician previously and 16 students (88.9%) have never had a clinical breast examination. Conclusion. While the overall knowledge of breast-cancer, risk factors and performance of breast self examination were good, further studies on a wider scale in Nigeria are needed to elucidate reasons why the elite women do not present themselves for clinical breast examination and why the physicians do not practice routine clinical breast examination.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Breast Self Examination in Female Health Workers in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. This study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self examination (BSE) among female health workers in Sagamu. Methods: Questionnaire was used to obtain information such as demographic characteristics, knowledge of breast cancer, attitudes towards BSE and questions relating to practices of BSE from female health workers. Statistical analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and Chi Square method. Results: The medical doctors had more knowledge about breast cancer than the nurses and laboratory scientists. The medical doctors (81.8%), laboratory scientists (56.5%) and the nurses (41.4%) knew the correct timing and frequency for performance of BSE. The monthly practice of BSE was very low among the nurses (30%), while only 68.2% of the doctors and 78.3% of laboratory scientist admitted carrying out BSE monthly. The doctors (68.2%), nurses (35.7%) and laboratory scientist (30.4%) started BSE below the age of 19 years. Conclusion: The results indicate that the nurses had poor attitude towards BSE and this affected their practice of BSE though they had knowledge. The finding that some of the female health workers did not practice BSE, suggests that there is a need for continuing education programs to change attitude and behaviour towards BSE.

A Brief Intervention Designed to Increase Breast Cancer Self-Screening

To assess the efficacy of an intervention designed to increase appropriate use of breast self-examination (BSE). Two-armed randomized clinical trial of cancer-control interventions in women that compared a BSE intervention program to a dietary intervention, which served as the control group. The study was conducted at a large health maintenance organization in Portland, Oregon. Participants were 616 female members of the health maintenance organization who were aged 40 to 70 years. The intervention consisted of a 30- to 45-minute individual counseling session that featured BSE instruction, training and practice with silicone models, identification of barriers to BSE, and problem-solving. This intervention was followed by two brief follow-up telephone calls. The study outcome measure was self-reported BSE practice, which included duration, frequency, and specific elements of exam. The study had a 90% response rate. At the 1-year follow-up, chi2 analyses showed that significantly more individuals in the BSE intervention (59%) reported adequate BSE performance compared with those in the control group (12.2%; p < .001). This brief intervention was successful in encouraging women to perform adequate BSEs. Although the role of the BSE in patient care remains controversial, these results show that even brief intervention programs can be effective at encouraging self-screening for cancer. This intervention could easily be modified to target other screening practices (e.g., skin or testicular cancer screening) that are associated with reduced cancer morbidity and mortality.

Health beliefs and breast self‐examination in a sample of Turkish nursing students and their mothers

To describe health beliefs and breast self-examination practice of Turkish female nursing students and their mothers. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Turkish women. Breast self-examination is one of the primary methods for early detection of breast cancer in asymptomatic women. The study was designed as a cross-sectional and comparative survey. The data were obtained from 392 participants, including female nursing students (n = 196) and their mothers (n = 196) in Ankara, Turkey. Data were collected by using a personal data form and the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test, chi-square test, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and logistic regression analysis were conducted. The percentage of nursing students who performed breast self-examination regularly was statistically higher than that of their mothers. The scores of health motivation, benefits and confidence were significantly higher in nursing students. The mothers' perceived susceptibility and barriers were significantly higher than their daughters. The frequency of breast self-examination practice was affected by the level of education, the mother's or daughter's monthly performance of breast self-examination and the level of perceived barrier to breast self-examination. There were differences in health beliefs related to breast self-examination and its practice between nursing students and their mothers. The results of this study showed that monthly performance of breast self-examination was more common among women who graduated from high school and university, whose mother or daughter performed breast self-examination regularly every month and those with lower levels of perceived barriers. It is essential that nurses be aware of the factors that contribute to monthly performance of breast self-examination. Cultural factors should be considered in planning educational programmes about breast self-examination practice. Interventions should be designed to enhance nursing students' proficiency in performing breast self-examination.

Knowledge and practice of breast-self examination among female undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Northwestern Nigeria

Carcinoma of the breast is an important public health problem in Nigeria and studies have reported low levels of awareness and practice of breast self examination as an important method of prevention. Breast self examination is a cost-effective method of early detection of cancer of the breast especially in resource poor countries. We assessed knowledge and practice of breast-self examination (BSE) among female undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. In this study, knowledge and practice of BSE were examined among 221 female students aged 16-28 years old studying at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria using self administered questionnaires. It was found that despite nearly three quarter of the respondents (87.7%) had heard of BSE, only 19.0% of them were performing this examination monthly. Regarding the sources of information about BSE among respondents, media was found to be most common followed by health workers accounting for 45.5% and 32.2% respectively. Regular performance of BSE was significantly correlated with duration of stay in the University (X2 = 81.9, df = 3, P 2 = 17.4, df = 2, P CONCLUSION: We observed a disparity between high levels of knowledge of BSE compared to a low level of practice. Public health education using the media could significantly reduce the knowledge-practice gap and early detection of breast lump.

The Role of Behavioral, Normative and Control Beliefs in Breast Self-Examination

ABSTRACT Context: A limited number of studies have been conducted examining the role of beliefs in the prediction of breast self-examination (BSE) behavior in Australian women, particularly women under 50 years of age for which it is the primary method of early detection of breast cancer. Objective: The present research investigated the differences in behavioral, normative and control beliefs between BSE performers and non-performers, within a theory of planned behavior framework, to assist in the development of specific education programs aimed at increasing BSE amongst this demographic group. Method: Two hundred and fifty-three women enrolled in an undergraduate psychology course completed a questionnaire assessing beliefs regarding BSE. One month later, these women reported their BSE behavior during the previous month. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify belief-based differences between BSE performers and non-performers. Results: Underlying behavioral and control, but not normative, beliefs about BSE distinguished between BSE performers and non-performers. Performers were more likely than non-performers to believe that engaging in BSE would be associated with identifying a lump or breast change sooner and detecting a breast cancer earlier in its course. Non-performers were more likely to perceive factors such as forgetting to perform the behavior, lack of time, lack of knowledge about how to perform the behavior, laziness, and a lack of confidence in their ability to identify lumps and breast changes as factors preventing their control over the performance of BSE. Conclusions: The belief-based differences between BSE performers and non-performers found in this study can be used to inform health promotion strategies aimed at increasing BSE behavior in women less than 50 years of age.

Health beliefs and breast cancer screening behaviors among female health workers in Turkey

The purpose of this study was to evaluate health beliefs and breast cancer screening behaviors in female health workers in Turkey. This descriptive study was conducted in various health centers located in Erzurum, Turkey. The sample consisted of 268 female health workers (physicians, n=51; nurses, n=169; and midwives, n=48). Data were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire and the Turkish version of Champion's Health Belief Model Scales (CHBMS). The mean age of participants was 31.31 (S.D.=6.89), and 49.9% of them were married. It was found that only 21.9% of the female health workers performed breast self-examination (BSE) regularly, and 12.5% of them had a mammogram. Physicians' health motivation and BSE self-efficacy perceptions were higher than the nurses and midwives. Susceptibility, health motivation to BSE, BSE benefits, BSE self-efficacy perceptions of female health workers who performed BSE were significantly higher than those who did not, and a result indicating that positive health beliefs are effective in stimulating performance of BSE of female health workers. Among the variables related with mammography, only susceptibility perceptions of female health workers who had a mammogram was significantly higher than those who had not had a mammogram.

Factors associated with breast self-examination practices and beliefs in female workers at a Muslim community

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to identify knowledge levels and performance frequency of breast self-examination (BSE) and to examine variables related to breast cancer screening behaviors in a sample of Turkish women. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 103 Muslim female workers at a hazelnut factory in Ordu city, Turkey, using an adapted version of Champion's revised Health Belief Model Scale. Results showed that 26.2% of the women reported knowledge of BSE and 4.3% reported that they perform BSE. Higher health motivation, higher perceived self-efficacy of BSE, marital status, and familial breast cancer history were significantly associated with BSE performance. Higher levels of health motivation and higher perceived self-efficacy of BSE were also significantly associated with knowledge of BSE.

How do nurses and teachers perform breast self-examination: are they reliable sources of information?

BackgroundBreast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine and compare knowledge, behavior and attitudes among female nurses and teachers concerning breast self-examination (BSE).MethodsTwo-hundred and eighty nine women working in Aydin, Turkey (125 nurses and 164 teachers) were included in the study. The data were collected using a questionnaire designed to measure the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of the groups. Analysis involved percentiles, χ2 tests, t tests and factor analysis.ResultsThe knowledge of nurses about BSE was higher than that of teachers (81.5% versus 45.1%; p < 0.001). BSE practice parameters (i.e. age groups, indications, frequency) were similar (p > 0.05), whereas skills in performing self-examination were higher in nurses (p < 0.001). Fear of having breast cancer is the most frequent reason for performing BSE. Among nurses, the reasons for failure to perform BSE were the absence of prominent breast problems (82%) and forgetting (56.4%). The teachers who did not perform BSE said that the reasons were lack of knowledge on how to perform self-examination (68.9%) and absence of problems (54%). Both groups had unacceptable technical errors in the performance of BSE.ConclusionWe conclude that nurses and teachers should be supported with information enabling them to accomplish their roles in the community. To improve BSE practice, it is crucial to coordinate continuous and planned education.

A comparison of writing exercises to motivate young women to practise breast self‐examinations

This study investigated the novel use of written emotional disclosure procedures for motivating health behavior change, specifically engagement in breast self examination (BSE) among college-aged women. Writing instructions were tailored to a precontemplative stage of change in accordance with the transtheoretical model proposed by Prochaska and DiClemente (1983) to test the hypothesis that stage-matched writing strategy would facilitate greater contemplation than a stage-mismatched writing strategy and a control condition. Precontemplative women (N=55) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (a) a stage-matched consciousness-raising writing exercise; (b) a stage-mismatched BSE action-oriented exercise; or (c) a control condition, and measured on contemplation, preparation, and action, as well as performance of BSEs. Analyses indicated that both the consciousness-raising writing exercise and the BSE action-oriented exercise increased participants' level of contemplation when compared to the control condition. Women assigned to the BSE action-oriented exercise endorsed more statements indicative of an action stage of change and exhibited a trend for greater performance of BSE compared to the other two conditions. The application of writing exercises and the relevance of stage-matching is discussed in the context of the stage of change model.

Are Tri-Ethnic Low-Income Women with Breast Cancer Effective Teachers of the Importance of Breast Cancer Screening to Their First-Degree Relatives? Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of women with breast cancer as teachers of the importance of breast cancer screening to their first-degree female relatives. The sample was restricted to low-income working age women recruited from four hospitals. The study design was a randomized clinical trial. At each hospital, breast cancer patients (probands) were randomized into one of two study groups: (i) intensive, individual educational training on breast cancer screening or (ii) standard clinic education on breast cancer screening. The probands were instructed to teach at least one of their first-degree female relatives (21+ years of age) about breast cancer screening techniques. Three to six months after the enrollment of the probands, their relatives were contacted by telephone to determine breast cancer screening practices. A total of 79 probands and 96 relatives participated in the study. Relatives in the education group when compared with the control group were: 1.25 times more likely to have clinical breast examination (p = 0.005), 2.83 times more likely to have scheduled a clinical breast examination (p = 0.046), and, 1.36 times more likely to have been told about performing breast self-examination (p = 0.05). Additionally, relatives in the education group were more likely to have received a pamphlet on breast cancer screening (RR = 1.58, p = 0.009) and have discussed the importance of breast cancer screening (RR = 1.33, p = 0.020) from the proband. Special education training did not impact mammography utilization of the relatives. From these findings, a tri-ethnic group of low-income women with breast cancer can be effective teachers of breast cancer screening practices, at least for promoting clinical breast examination and transmitting messaging for performance of breast self-examination if given the adequate training.

Breast Self-Examination: Self-Reported Frequency, Quality, and Associated Outcomes

There is little information on the quality of breast self-examination (BSE) and associated outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 27,421 women enrolled in a Pacific Northwest health plan. We linked responses regarding BSE quality from a questionnaire to subsequent screening and diagnostic efforts. A total of 75% of the women performed BSE. We rated BSE quality as adequate in 27%. Women who reported higher BSE duration, frequency, and quality were more likely to have diagnostic mammograms. Participants ultimately diagnosed with breast cancer (N = 300) were significantly less likely to report performing BSE. Tumor size and stage were not associated with BSE behavior. A high proportion of women perform BSE, but few do so adequately. We found no evidence for benefit of BSE. It is time to ask whether systematic BSE performance should continue to be encouraged.

The knowledge and attitudes of breast self-examination and mammography in a group of women in a rural area in western Turkey

BackgroundBreast cancer appears to be a disease of both the developing and developed worlds. Among Turkish women, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to determine levels of knowledge about breast cancer and to evaluate health beliefs concerning the model that promotes breast self- examination (BSE) and mammography in a group of women aged 20–64 in a rural area of western Turkey.Methods244 women were recruited by means of cluster sampling in this study. The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic variables, a risk factors and signs of breast cancer form and the adapted version of Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). Bivariate correlation analysis, Chi square test, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression analysis were performed throughout the data analysis.ResultsThe mean age of the women was 37.7 ± 13.7. 49.2% of women were primary school graduates, 67.6% were married. Although 76.6% of the women in this study reported that they had heard or read about breast cancer, our study revealed that only 56.1% of them had sufficient knowledge of breast cancer, half of whom had acquired the information from health professionals.Level of breast cancer knowledge was the only variable significantly associated with the BSE and mammography practice (p = 0.011, p = 0.007). BSE performers among the study group were more likely to be women who exhibited higher confidence and perceived greater benefits from BSE practice, and those who perceived fewer barriers to BSE performance and possessed knowledge of breast cancer.ConclusionBy using the CHBMS constructs for assessment, primary health care providers can more easily understand the beliefs that influence women's BSE and mammography practice.

Individual and collaborative implementation intentions and the promotion of breast self-examination

Implementation intentions, plans relating to when and where behaviours will be performed, have been effective in increasing health behaviour. Two studies are reported that test the impact of this strategy in promoting breast self-examination (BSE), a behaviour shown to aid the early detection of tumours. In study 1, 457 participants were randomly allocated to either implementation intention or control conditions. Implementation intentions significantly increased the likelihood of BSE at one month. The effect of the intervention was marginally significant at six months. Study 2 (N = 101) tested the efficacy of a collaborative implementation intention intervention that required female participants to plan, with a partner, collaborative BSE performance. Results indicated that both implementation intentions and partner involvement were associated with BSE performance at one month, whilst the collaborative implementation intention intervention showed a 100% success rate. Collaborative implementation intentions may reduce forgetfulness. Interventions that encourage partner involvement in planning and enacting behaviour appear to enhance implementation intention utility.

The Influence of Breast Self-Examination on Subsequent Mammography Participation

We evaluated whether breast self-examination (BSE) influences subsequent mammography participation. We evaluated associations between BSE and subsequent mammography participation, adjusting for baseline screening behaviors and sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle characteristics, among women aged 40 years and older using data from the longitudinal Canadian National Population Health Survey. Regular performance of BSE at baseline was not associated with receipt of a recent mammogram at follow-up among all women (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]= 0.75, 1.35) or with mammography uptake among the subgroup of women reporting never use at baseline (adjusted OR=0.78; 95% CI=0.50, 1.22). The lack of association between performance of BSE and subsequent mammography participation suggests that not recommending BSE is unlikely to influence mammography participation.

Impact of benign breast biopsy upon breast self-examination

Current American Cancer Society guidelines recommend monthly performance of breast self-examination (BSE) for women over 20 years of age. While the experience of a benign breast biopsy can result in elevated levels of distress, the impact of benign biopsy upon breast cancer (BC) screening behavior is not well known. The present study examined frequency of BSE practice in 102 women after benign breast biopsy (biopsy group). Telephone interviews were completed a mean of 21 days (initial interview) and 8 months after biopsy (follow-up interview). A healthy comparison (HC) group of women ( n = 76) without a history of breast biopsy completed an initial interview only. Information regarding distress, dispositional characteristics, BC screening-related attitudes and behaviors, and subjective and objective risk for BC was collected. Results indicated that the biopsy and HC groups did not differ in typical (i.e., prebiopsy) practice of BSE. However, practice of BSE changed after biopsy with a general trend toward a decrease in BSE frequency. Only 8% of women in the biopsy group reported appropriate (once per month) practice of BSE at the 8-month Follow-up while 28% reported appropriate practice at the initial interview. Decreases in BSE performance after biopsy were characteristic of younger women, women who lacked confidence in the ability to perform BSE correctly, and women whose biopsy was preceded by discovery of a breast lump or abnormality during BSE. Results suggest the potential value of a psychoeducational intervention after biopsy to enhance appropriate performance of BSE.

Strengthening the Persuasive Impact of Fear Appeals: The Role of Action Framing

Tested, among 110 Dutch undergraduate students, the effects of action frame (AF) under conditions of fear arousal (FA). We predicted an interaction effect between FA and AF that would show that high FA paired with loss information leads to a more positive evaluation of the recommended action than do combinations of (a) high FA with gain information and (b) low FA with either loss or gain information. In the high-threat condition, Ss read information that stressed the severity of breast cancer and the Ss' susceptibility to it. In the low-threat condition, the S's susceptibility to breast cancer was described as low. FA was measured by 4 items on a 9-point scale. Next, Ss then read information about performing breast self-examination that was presented either in a loss frame or in a gain frame. The main dependent variable was a relative evaluation of the importance of monthly breast self-examination performance compared with 5 other health behaviors. A main effect of FA was found, but this effect seemed to be qualified by the predicted interaction between FA and AF, which approached significance. Simple contrast analyses show that Ss in the high FA-loss condition evaluated breast self-examination as more important than Ss in any of the other groups. Further research is suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

Breast Self-Examination Performance Among Korean Nurses

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The Influence of Social Support on Breast Cancer Screening in a Multicultural Community Sample

To examine the relationship between women's reported social support and their adherence to recommended breast cancer screening guidelines. Descriptive, cross-sectional survey. Community women's organizations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. 833 mostly low-income women with a mean age of 46.2 years from three racial or ethnic groups (i.e., Latina, Caucasian, and African American) who were not breast cancer survivors. Social support was measured with a five-item, four-point, Likert scale developed for the study (Cronbach's alpha = 0.7248). Adherence to screening guidelines was measured by asking frequency of performing breast self-examination (BSE) and frequency of obtaining a clinical breast examination (CBE) and a mammogram. Research assistants and leaders of women's organizations conducted the survey in work and community settings. Social support, performance of BSE, obtaining a CBE and a mammogram, income, education, spoken language, and level of acculturation. Higher levels of social support were related to higher income and higher education. Lower levels of social support were associated with being Latina, completing the survey in Spanish, and being born abroad. Women who did not adhere to screening guidelines (for BSE or CBE) reported less social support. Social support is associated with adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines. Nurses should assess women's levels of social support as a factor when evaluating adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines.